What is the world to me,
With all its vaunt­ed plea­sure
When Thou, and Thou alone,
Lord Je­sus, art my trea­sure!
Thou on­ly, dear­est Lord,
My soul’s de­light shalt be;
Thou art my peace, my rest—
What is the world to me?

The world is like a cloud
And like a va­por fleet­ing,
A sha­dow that de­clines,
Swift to its end re­treat­ing.
My Je­sus doth ab­ide,
Though all things fade and flee;
My ev­er­last­ing rock—
What is the world to me?

The world seeks to be praised
And hon­ored by the migh­ty,
Yet ne­ver once re­flects
That they are frail and fligh­ty.
But what I tru­ly prize
Above all things is He,
My Je­sus, He alone—
What is the world to me?

The world seeks af­ter wealth
And all that Mam­mon of­fers,
Yet ne­ver is con­tent
Though gold should fill it cof­fers.
I have a high­er good,
Content with it I’ll be:
My Je­sus is my wealth—
What is the world to me?

The world is sore­ly grieved
Whenever it is slight­ed
Or when its hol­low fame
And hon­or have been blighted.
Christ, Thy re­proach I bear
Long as it pleas­eth Thee;
I’m hon­ored by my Lord—
What is the world to me?

The world with wan­ton pride
Exalts its sin­ful plea­sures
And for them fool­ish­ly
Gives up the heav­en­ly trea­sures.
Let oth­ers love the world
With all its van­ity;
I love the Lord, my God—
What is the world to me?

The world ab­id­eth not;
Lo, like a flash ’twill van­ish;
With all it gorg­eous pomp
Pale death it can­not ban­ish;
Its rich­es pass away,
And all its joys must flee;
But Je­sus doth ab­ide—
What is the world to me?

What is the world to me?
My Je­sus is my trea­sure,
My life, my health, my wealth,
My friend, my love, my plea­sure,
My joy, my crown, my all,
My bliss eter­nal­ly.
Once more, then, I de­clare—
What is the world to me?