Go and dig my grave today!

Weary of my ceaseless roaming,

Now from earth I pass away,

Heav'nly peace awaits my coming,

Angel voices from above

Call me to their rest and love.

Go and dig my grave today!

Homeward now my journey tendeth,

And I lay my staff away

Here where all earth's labour endeth,

And I lay my weary head

In the only painless bed.

What is there I yet should do

If in this dark vale I linger?

Proud our schemes, and fair to view,

Yet they melt beneath Time's finger

Like the sand before the wind,

That no power of man can bind.

Farewell, earth, then! I am glad

That I now in peace may leave thee,

For thy very joys are sad,

And thy hopes do but deceive thee;

Fleeting is thy beauty's gleam,

False and changing as a dream.

Sun and moon and stars so bright,

Farewell all your golden splendour!

Here I loved you, but your light

Gladly will I now surrender,

For the glories of that day

Where ye all must fade away.

Farewell, O ye friends I love!

Though awhile ye journey grieving,

Comfort cometh from above

To the hearts in Christ believing;

Weep not o'er a passing show,

To th' eternal world I go.

Weep not that the world I leave,

Mourn not that I am exchanging

Errors that here closely cleave,

Empty ghosts and shadows ranging

Through this world of nought and night,

For a land of truth and light.

Weep not! dearest to my heart

Is my Saviour, He doth cheer me;

And I know that I have part

In his pains, and He is near me;

For He shed His precious blood

For the whole world's highest good.

Weep not, my Redeemer lives!

From the dust, Hope ever vernal

Looks to Heaven and upward strives;

Fearless Faith and Love eternal

Now are softly whispering nigh,

"Child of God, fear not to die!"