1 The sun went down on Jacob's grief and night found him alone; his guilt and fear had no relief, his pillow was a stone: but God in darkness came, and kept his word of grace supreme, to give new courage while he slept, new wisdom in a dream. 2 For Jacob in his sleep was shown God's messengers on high the angels moving up and down a stairway to the sky; he heard the voice he scarcely knew of One whom none can see: 'I will protect and be with you, and you must trust in me.' 3 Our fathers' God grants us to share the way that Jacob went; the upward path is now made clear in Christ, our one ascent: our eyes and heart and soul and mind awake to see his face, as in the desert tracks we find the Lord is in this place. 4 God's love is our security, the past has been forgiven, and every resting-place can be the very gate of heaven: our Saviour's promise makes us strong to face the barren ways; our bitterness is turned to song, our sorrow into praise.