O God, the Rock of Ages,
Who evermore hast been,
What time the tempest rages,
Our dwelling place serene:
Before Thy first creations,
O Lord, the same as now,
To endless generations,
The Everlasting Thou!
Our years are like the shadows
On sunny hills that lie,
Or grasses in the meadows
That blossoms but to die:
A sleep, a dream, a story,
By strangers quickly told,
An unremaining glory
Of things that soon are old.
O Thou who canst not slumber,
Whose light grows never pale,
Teach us aright to number
Ours years before they fail!
On us Thy mercy lighten,
On us Thy goodness rest,
And let Thy Spirit brighten
The hearts Thyself hast blessed!
Edward H. Bickersteth, Public Domain
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