William Preston Johnston - The Saint of the Desert lyrics

THE world is cruel, in the slough of sin, And bad brute force tramples on Adam's seed; In the hot race of life the vilest win, And power wrings tribute from the poor man's need; Then what is left is shared by craft and greed; Heaven hath no ear to hear amid the din, Though lust corrupts and human hearts must bleed. When will the reign of righteousness begin? Eager am I my trembling soul to save; O God, Thou knowest that I would be pure, But man is cruel and I am not strong To cope with savagery and combat wrong. Still I can pray, shun sin and much endure, Far from the world hid in some desert cave.