The Camp-Fires of My Friend + 

Thou hast taken me into thy tent of the world, O God, + 

Beneath thy blue canopy I have found shelter, + 

Therefore thou wilt not deny me the right of a guest. + 

Naked and poor I arrived at thy door before sunset: + 

Thou hast refreshed me with beautiful bowls of milk, + 

As a great chief thou hast set forth food in abundance. + 

I have loved the daily delights of thy dwelling, + 

Thy moon and thy stars have lighted me to my bed, + 

In the morning I have made merry with thy servants. + 

Surely thou wilt not send me away in the darkness? + 

There the enemy Death is lying in wait for my soul: + 

Thou art the host of my life and I claim thy protection. + 

Then the Lord of the tent of the world made answer: + 

_The right of a guest endureth for a certain time, + 

After three days and nights cometh the day of departure._ + 

_Yet hearken to me since thou fearest to go in the dark: + 

I will make with thee a new covenant of hospitality, + 

Behold I will come unto thee as a stranger and be thy guest._ + 

_Poor and needy will I come that thou mayest entertain me, + 

Meek and lowly will I come that thou mayest find a friend, + 

With mercy and with truth will I come to give thee comfort._ + 

_Therefore open thy heart to me and bid me welcome, + 

In this tent of the world I will be thy brother of the bread, + 

And when thou farest forth I will be thy companion forever._ + 

Then my soul rested in the word of the Lord; + 

And I saw that the curtains of the world were shaken, + 

But I looked beyond them to the stars, + 

The camp-fires of my eternal friend. + 