Scripture Verse

My days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle. Job 7:6

Introduction

Words: Ben­ja­min Bed­dome (1717–1795). Pub­lished post­hu­mous­ly in Hymns Adapt­ed to Pub­lic Wor­ship (Lon­don: Bu­rton & Briggs, 1818), num­ber 710. New Year.

Music: Old Mar­tyrs Psalms (Ed­in­burgh, Scot­land: 1615) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

Lyrics

Quickly my days have passed away,
[or, How quick my days have passed away,]
How soon al­as, they’re gone!
Life’s gay­est scenes de­cline in haste,
Just like the set­ting sun.

Always in mo­tion, ne’er at rest,
My min­utes on­ward roll;
Swift to pur­sue their des­tined course,
And soon will reach the goal.

Eternal pains or end­less joys
Stand wait­ing at the door;
The mo­ments past or those to come,
Are not with­in my pow­er.

God of my strength and of my hope,
In whom I live and move,
Help me by Thine in­struct­ive grace
The pre­sent to im­prove.

And if through this re­volv­ing year,
Thou shouldst my life pro­long,
Oh may Thy wis­dom guide my steps,
Thy praise em­ploy my tongue.