The Church Hymnal ‎#401

401. Brief life is here our portion

1 Brief life is here our portion,
Brief sorrow, short-lived care;
The life that knows no ending,
The tearless life is there!
O happy retribution!
Short toil, eternal rest,
For mortals and for sinners,
A mansion with the blest!

2 There grief is turned to pleasure;
Such pleasure as below
No human voice can utter,
No human heart can know;
And after fleshly weakness,
And after this world's night,
And after storm and whirlwind,
Are calm, and joy, and light.

3 And now we fight the battle,
But then shall wear the crown
Of full and everlasting
And passionless renown;
And He Whom now we trust in,
Shall then be seen and known,
And they that know and see Him,
Shall have Him for their own.

4 And now we watch and struggle,
And now we live in hope,
And Sion in her anguish,
With Babylon must cope;
But there is David's Fountain,
And life in fullest glow;
And there the light is golden,
And milk and honey flow.

5 The morning shall awaken,
The shadows flee away,
And each true-hearted servant
Shall shine as doth the day;
For God our King and Portion,
In fulness of His grace,
We then shall see for ever,
And worship face to face.

6 O sweet and blessed country,
The home of God's elect!
O sweet and blessed country
That eager hearts expect!
Jesu, in mercy bring us
To that dear land of rest;
Who art, with God the Father,
And Spirit, ever blest.

Text Information

• First Line: Brief life is here our portion
• Translator: J. M. Neale
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1920
• Topic: General

Tune Information

• Name: ST. ALPHEGE
• Composer: H. J. Gauntlett
• Meter: 7.6.7.6.
• Key: G Major or modal