498 C.M. Isaac Watts
Shortness of Life and Goodness of God. James 4. 14; Ps. 65. 11
1
Time! what an empty vapour ’tis!
 
And days how swift they are!
 
Swift as an Indian arrow flies,
 
Or like a shooting star.
2
[The present moments just appear,
 
Then slide away in haste,
 
That we can never say, “They’re here,”
 
But only say “They’re past.”]
3
[Our life is ever on the wing,
 
And death is ever nigh;
 
The moment when our lives begin,
 
We all begin to die.]
4
Yet, mighty God! our fleeting days
 
Thy lasting favours share;
 
Yet with the bounties of thy grace,
 
Thou load’st the rolling year.
5
’Tis sovereign mercy finds us food,
 
And we are clothed with love;
 
While grace stands pointing out the road
 
That leads our souls above.
6
His goodness runs an endless round;
 
All glory to the Lord!
 
His mercy never knows a bound;
 
And be his name adored.
7
Thus we begin the lasting song,
 
And, when we close our eyes,
 
Let the next age thy praise prolong
 
Till time and nature dies.