I Constant Care Will Take

I con­stant care will take

Lest sin­ful words they hear;

My lips their si­lence shall not break

While wick­ed men are near.

I dumb and si­lent stood

No words of mine were heard;

I e’en re­frained from speak­ing good

Till sor­row’s deeps were stirred.

My heart was all on fire

With burn­ing thoughts sup­pressed;

My tongue was loosed

my soul’s de­sire

I then to God ad­dressed.

My end

Lord

make me know

My days

how soon they fail;

And to my thought­ful spir­it show

How weak I am and frail.

To Thy eter­nal thought

My days are but a span;

To Thee my years ap­pear as naught

A breath at best is man.

Man lives in emp­ty show

His anx­ious care is vain

He hoards his wealth

and does not know

Who shall poss­ess his gain.