Why Should I Fear in Evil Days?

Why should I fear in ev­il days

With snares en­com­passed all around?

What trust can tran­si­ent trea­sures raise

For them in rich­es who ab­ound?

His bro­ther who from death can save?

What wealth can ran­som him from God?

What mine of gold de­fraud the grave?

What hoards but van­ish at His nod?

To live for­ev­er is their dream;

Their hous­es by their name they call;

While

borne by time’s re­lent­less stream

Around them wise and fool­ish fall;

Their rich­es oth­ers must di­vide;

They plant

but oth­ers reap the fruit;

In hon­or man can­not ab­ide

To death de­vot­ed

like the brute.

This is their fol­ly

this their way;

And yet in this their sons de­light;

Like sheep

of death the des­tined prey

The fu­ture scorn of the up­right;

The grave their beau­ty shall con­sume

Their dwell­ings nev­er see them more;

But God shall raise me from the tomb

And life for end­less time re­store.

What though thy foe in wealth in­crease

And fame and glo­ry crown his head?

Fear not

for all at death shall cease

Nor fame

nor glo­ry

crown the dead:

While pros­per­ing all around thee smiled

Yet to the grave shalt thou des­cend;

The sense­less pride of for­tune’s child

Shall share the brute cre­ation’s end.