The Evils That Beset Our Path

The ev­ils that be­set our path

Who can pre­vent or cure?

We stand up­on the brink of death

When most we seem se­cure.

If we to­day sweet peace pos­sess

It soon may be with­drawn;

Some change may plunge us in dis­tress

Before to­mor­row’s dawn.

Disease and pain in­vade our health

And find an ea­sy prey;

And oft

when least ex­pect­ed

wealth

Takes wings and flies away.

A fev­er or a blow can shake

Our wis­dom’s boast­ed rule;

And of the bright­est ge­ni­us make

A mad­man or a fool.

The gourds

from which we look for fruit

Produce us on­ly pain;

A worm un­seen at­tacks the root

And all our hopes are vain.

I pi­ty those who seek no more

Than such a world can give;

Wretched they are

and blind

and poor

And dy­ing while they live.

Since sin has filled the earth with woe

And crea­tures fade and die;

Lord wean our hearts from things be­low

And fix our hopes on high.