Words: (1876-1961):

I wrote the hymn at the time of the con­sum­ma­tion of the un­ion of the Pres­by­ter­i­an, Meth­od­ist and Con­gre­ga­tion­al church­es, which now form the Unit­ed Church of Can­a­da. I was Di­rect­or of Pub­li­ci­ty dur­ing the three years’ cam­paign pri­or to the Uni­on.

Music: Her­e­ford (Heins), (1878-1949).

If you know when the words or mu­sic were writ­ten, or where to get a pho­to of Fran­cis Heins

There’s a voice in the wilderness crying,
A call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway,
A highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted,
The lofty hills brought low;
Make straight all the crooked places,
Where the Lord our God may go!

O Zion, that bringest good tidings,
Get thee up to the heights and sing!
Proclaim to a desolate people
The coming of their King.
Like the flowers of the field they perish,
The works of men decay,
The power and pomp of nations
Shall pass like a dream away.

But the word of our God endureth,
The arm of the Lord is strong;
He stands in the midst of nations,
And He will right the wrong.
He shall feed His flock like a shepherd,
And fold the lambs to His breast;
In pastures of peace He’ll lead them,
And give to the weary rest.

There’s a voice in the wilderness crying,
A call from the ways untrod:
Prepare in the desert a highway,
A highway for our God!
The valleys shall be exalted,
The lofty hills brought low;
Make straight all the crooked places,
Where the Lord our God may go!