Birds have their quiet nest,

Foxes their holes, and man his peaceful bed;

All creatures have their rest,

But Jesus had not where to lay his head.

And yet he came to give

The weary and the heavy-laden rest;

To bid the sinner live,

And soothe our griefs to slumber on his breast.

Let the birds seek their nest,

Foxes their holes, and man his peaceful bed;

Come, Saviour, in my breast

Come and repose thine oft rejected head!

Come! give me rest, and take

The only rest on earth thou lov’st, within

A heart that for thy sake

Shall purify itself from every sin.