Scripture Verse

Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like his! Numbers 23:10

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in Church Psal­mo­dy, ed­it­ed by Lowe­ll Ma­son & Da­vid Greene (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Per­kins & Mar­vin, 1831), num­ber 616.

Music: Weal­den, ano­ny­mous, in The Sab­bath Hymn and Tune Book, ed­it­ed by Lo­well Ma­son, Ed­wards A. Park & Aus­tin Phelps (New York: Ma­son Bro­thers, 1859), page 177 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

Origin of the Hymn

The op­en­ing line of this hymn is the first line of J. Mont­go­me­ry’s Ode to the Vol­un­teers of Bri­tain, on the Pros­pect of In­vas­ion, pub­lished in his Wan­der­er of Swit­zer­land and Oth­er Po­ems, 1819; and the third line of stan­za i. is part­ly from the last stan­za but one of the same Ode.

From these ex­tracts, and the whole tone and swing of the hymn, it is clear that it was sug­gest­ed by the Ode…It is some­times as­cribed to J. Mont­go­me­ry, and at oth­er times to S. F. Smith, but in each case in er­ror. Its au­tho­rship is un­known. [Fred­er­ic May­er Bird]

Julian, p. 830

Lyrics

Oh for the death of those
Who slumber in the Lord!
Oh be like theirs my last repose,
Like theirs my last reward.

Their bodies, in the ground,
In silent hope may lie,
Till the last trumpet’s joyful sound
Shall call them to the sky

Their ransomed spirits soar,
On wings of faith and love,
To meet the Sav­ior they adore,
And reign with Him above.

With us their names shall live
Through long succeeding years,
Embalmed with all our hearts can give,
Our praises and our tears.

Oh for the death of those
Who slumber in the Lord!
Oh be like theirs my last repose,
Like theirs my last reward.