You help make Hymnary.org possible.

In 2025, more than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources, and encouragement here. If Hymnary has meant something to you this year, would you take a moment to help sustain it? A gift of any size — and a note of encouragement, if you'd like to share one — directly supports the server costs, research, and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org (c/o Calvin University)
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for being part of this important online ministry resource.

126. Why Carelessly Wait?

1 O come to the Lord today,
Come, sinner, without delay;
O give him your heart, I pray,
Why carelessly wait?
Soon you will be called to die,
Pour soul, to the Savior fly;
You know that the end is nigh,
Why carelessly wait?

Refrain:
Why carelessly wait?
Why carelessly wait?
You know that the end is nigh,
Why carelessly wait?

2 Your day of grace will be past,
And hopeless you'll be at last,
With mercy's door closed and fast,
Why carelessly wait?
When there at the judgment throne,
Your sins will be all made known,
Then Satan will claim his own,
Why carelessly wait? [Refrain]

3 O soul, do not idly stand,
Unheeding the Lord's command;
You'll perish in sinking sand,
Why carelessly wait?
Your pulse will ere long be still,
In death will your blood soon chill;
O hasten, obey God's will,
Why carelessly wait? [Refrain]

4 Soon, soon in eternity,
Poor sinner, your soul shall be,
What then can atone for thee?
Why carelessly wait?
You'll stand at the judgment seat,
Your record of sins you'll meet;
Come bowing at Jesus' feet,
Why carelessly wait? [Refrain]

Text Information
First Line: O come to the Lord today
Title: Why Carelessly Wait?
Author: Barney E. Warren (1907)
Refrain First Line: Why carelessly wait?
Language: English
Publication Date: 1953
Tune Information
(No tune information)



Media
More media are available on the text authority page.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.