Scripture Verse

Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 2:22

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 719, alt. Snares of Youth.

Music: Farn­ham tra­di­tion­al Eng­lish tune (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Bed­dome (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Frail youth are on a slip­pe­ry path,
[originally, Frail youth are in a slip­pe­ry path]
 Beset with migh­ty foes;
Surrounded with dis­ease and death,
Unnumbered sins and woes.

Their pass­ions war against the soul,
And lead their feet as­tray;
Submitting to the world’s con­trol,
They shun the nar­row way.

To va­ni­ties of time and sense,
Their youth­ful hearts are prone;
How dif­fi­cult to draw them thence,
To seek a heav’n­ly goal.

Great God, the work is whol­ly Thine,
To guide our err­ing youth;
Do Thou their wan­der­ing hearts in­cline,
To seek the ways of truth.

Restrain im­pe­tuous pas­sions, Lord,
Upwards di­rect their eyes;
Give them a heart to know Thy word,
And all Thy coun­sels prize.