The cry of man’s anguish went up to God,

Lord, take away pain:

The shadow that darkens the world You have made,

The close, choking chain

That strangles the heart, the burden that weighs

On the wings that would soar,

Lord, take away pain from the world You have made,

That it love You the more."

Then answered the Lord to the cry of His world "p

Shall I take away pain,

And with it the power of the soul to endure,

Made strong by the strain?

Shall I take away pity, that knits heart to heart

Will you lose all your heroes that lift from the fireWisdom toward the sky?

And sacrifice high?

Shall I take away love that redeems with a price

And smiles at the loss?

Can you spare from your lives that would climb unto Me

The Christ on His cross?"