The Year Now Hastens to Its End

The year now hast­ens to its end

Bleak is the coun­try­side;

A sad fare­well in song I send

The fleet­ing sum­mer­tide.

Soon howls the win­ter’s stor­my voice

Things wi­ther and de­cay;

Let na­ture rest

I will re­joice

In God who lives for aye.

The sun is cut­ting short its trail

The night pro­longs its sway;

God’s migh­ty arm shall nev­er fail

His wis­dom nev­er stray.

The fad­ing leaves in co­lors glow

And soon are tossed about;

God’s love for me while here be­low

I nev­er­more will doubt.

I know where joy still has a home

When bar­ren fields are white

’Tis un­der Heav­en’s star­ry dome

With an­gel chor­us bright.

I know where I for hope may flee

When na­ture fad­eth here

On Gol­go­tha

my Sav­ior’s tree

Stands ver­dant through the year.

With drop­ping leaves in au­tumn’s rain

Let flow­ers fade and fall;

My faith in Him shall still re­tain

Its leaves and flow­ers all.

He pledg­es me eter­nal life

Though win­ter storms as­sail;

He broke the tomb and won the strife

His pro­mise can­not fail.