'I cannot tell why' (hymn) written by William Young Fullerton

I cannot tell why He, whom angels worship,

Should set His love upon the sons of men;

Or why, as Shepherd, He should seek the wanderers

To bring them back, they know not how or when.

But this I know, that He was born of Mary,

When Bethl'hem's manger was His only home,

And that He lived at Nazareth and laboured

And so the Saviour, Saviour of the world is come.


I cannot tell how silently He suffered 

As with His peace He graced this place of tears;

Or how His heart upon the cross was broken

The crown of pain to three and thirty years.

But this I know, He heals the broken-hearted

And stays our sin and calms our lurking fear

And lifts the burden from the heavy laden,

For yet the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.


I cannot tell how He will win the nations,

How He will claim Hos earthly heritage,

How satisfy the needs and aspirations 

Of east and west, of sinner and of sage.

But this I know, all flesh shall see Hos glory

And He shall reap the harvest He has sown

And some glad day His sun shall shine in splendour

When He the Saviour, Saviour of the world is known.


I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship

When at His bidding every storm is stilled;

Or who can say how great the jubilation 

When all the hearts of men with love are filled.

But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture

And myriad, myriad human voices sing

And earth to heaven, and heaven to earth will answer

'At last the Saviour, Saviour of the world is King!'

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