Naked as from the Earth We Came

Naked as from the earth we came

And crept to life at first;

We to the earth re­turn again

And min­gle with our dust.

The dear de­lights we here en­joy

And fond­ly call our own

Are but short fa­vors bor­rowed now

To be re­paid anon.

’Tis God that lifts our com­forts high

Or sinks them in the grave;

He gives and (bless­èd be His name!)

He takes but what He gave.

Peace

all our an­gry pass­ions then!

Let each re­bel­li­ous sigh

Be si­lent at His sov­er­eign will

And ev­ery mur­mur die.

If smil­ing mer­cy crown our lives

Its prais­es shall be spread;

And we’ll adore the jus­tice

too

That strikes our com­forts dead.