Whate'er my hand or heart design

Whate'er my hand or heart design,
Of holy thought, or work divine,
Of alms, or fast, or prayer;
May I, my God, with all my might
Do it for Thee, and in Thy sight,
Thy love — mine only care!

When moved to tears by prayer or praise,
By holy things or holy days,
My soul adoring bows;
And falters forth its hopes and fears,
May I not rest content with tears, —
But haste and pay my vows.

For tears are weak, and sin is strong,
And time is short, and sorrows long,
For those who time misspend;
And they who would lie down in rest
Should thro' life's journey do their best,
As well as at its end.

Since in the grave, where we do go,
None may " device nor knowledge" know,
"No work, nor wisdom" there;
They must have trod the narrow way
Who, at the close of life's short day,
God's paradise would share.