1 The morn of life, how fair and gay!
How cheer­ing and how new!
What hopes il­lume each op­en­ing day,
And bright­ens ev­ery view.

2 Youth’s ard­ent minds, with joy elate,
Elastic and sin­cere,
Suspect no ills that may await,
Nor yield a thought to fear.

3 But slip­pe­ry is the path they tread,
In plea­sure’s dan­ger­ous way;
A thou­sand snares around them spread,
And oft their feet be­tray.

4 How shall they, then, their course pur­sue,
On life’s un­cer­tain road?
What friend­ly hand will point their view,
To du­ty and to God?

5 In God’s own word the way is sure,
And clear to ev­ery eye;
It leads them on a path se­cure
To bright­er worlds on high.

6 Oh be this word their con­stant guide,
Their stead­fast hope and trust!
It ne’er can fail, though all be­side
Shall min­gle with the dust.