Psalm 90:12.

8,8,8,8,8,8,8

O Ewigkeit, o Ewigkeit

[56]Wülffer.1648.

trans. by Catherine Winkworth, 1855

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

And yet to thee Time hastes away,

Like as the warhorse to the fray,

Or swift as couriers homeward go,

Or ship to port, or shaft from bow.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

For ever as on a perfect sphere

End nor beginning can appear,

Even so, Eternity, in thee

Entrance nor exit can there be.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

A circle infinite art thou,

Thy centre an Eternal Now,

Never, we name thy outer bound,

For never end therein is found.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

A little bird with fretting beak

Might wear to nought the loftiest peak,

Though but each thousand years it came,

Yet thou wert then, as now, the same.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

As long as God is God, so long

Endure the pains of sin and wrong,

So long the joys of heaven remain;

Oh lasting joy, Oh lasting pain!

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

O man, full oft thy thoughts should dwell

Upon the pains of sin and hell,

And on the glories of the pure,

That both beyond all time endure.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

How terrible art thou in woe,

How fair where joys for ever glow!

God's goodness sheddeth gladness here,

His justice there wakes bitter fear.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

They who lived poor and naked rest

With God, for ever rich and blest,

And love and praise the Highest Good,

In perfect bliss and gladsome mood.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

A moment lasts all joy below,

Whereby man sinks to endless woe,

A moment lasts all earthly pain,

Whereby an endless joy we gain.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

Who ponders oft on thee, is wise,

All fleshly lusts will he despise,

The world finds place with him no more;

The love of vain delights is o'er.

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

Who marks thee well would say to God,

Here judge, burn, smite me with Thy rod,

Here let me all Thy justice bear,

When time of grace is past, then spare!

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!

Eternity! Eternity!

How long art thou, Eternity!

Lo, I, Eternity, warn thee,

O Man, that oft thou think on me,

The sinner's punishment and pain,

To them who love their God, rich gain!

Ponder, O Man, Eternity!