The Psalms of David ‎#I.LXXXVIII

I.LXXXVIII. Life is the Time to serve the Lord

1 Life is the Time to serve the Lord,
The Time t' insure the great Reward;
And while the Lamp holds out to burn,
The vilest Sinner may return.

[2 Life is the Hour that God has giv'n
To 'scape from Hell, and fly to Heav'n;
The Day of Grace, and Mortals may
Secure the Blessings of the Day.]

3 The Living know that they must die,
But all the Dead forgotten lie;
Their Mem'ry and their Sense is gone,
Alike unknowing and unknown.

[4 Their Hatred and their Love is lost,
Their Envy buried in the Dust;
They have no Share in all that's done
Beneath the Circuit of the Sun.]

5 Then what my Thoughts design to do,
My Hands with all your Might pursue,
Since no Device, nor Work is found,
Nor Faith, nor Hope, beneath the Ground.

6 There are no Acts of Pardon past
In the cold Grave, to which we haste;
But Darkness, Death, and long Despair,
Reign in eternal Silence there.

Text Information

• First Line: Life is the Time to serve the Lord
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1766
• Scripture:
  Ecclesiastes 9:4-6
  ;
  Ecclesiastes 9:10
• Topic: Delay of Conversion; Day of Grace and Time of Duty; Hope of the Living; Time redeemed

Tune Information

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