VANITAS VANITATUM, OMNIA VANITAS
In all we do, and hear,
and see,
Is restless Toil and Vanity.
While yet the rolling earth
abides,
Men come and go like ocean
tides;
And ere one generation dies,
Another in its place shall
rise;
THAT, sinking soon into
the grave,
Others succeed, like wave
on wave;
And as they rise, they pass
away.
The sun arises every day,
And hastening onward to
the West,
He nightly sinks, but not
to rest:
Returning to the eastern
skies,
Again to light us, he must
rise.
And still the restless wind
comes forth,
Now blowing keenly from
the North;
Now from the South, the East,
the West,
For ever changing, ne'er
at rest.
The fountains, gushing from
the hills,
Supply the ever-running
rills;
The thirsty rivers drink
their store,
And bear it rolling to the
shore,
But still the ocean craves
for more.
'Tis endless labour everywhere!
Sound cannot satisfy the
ear,
Light cannot fill the craving
eye,
Nor riches half our wants
supply,
Pleasure but doubles future
pain,
And joy brings sorrow in
her train;
Laughter is mad, and reckless
mirth--
What does she in this weary
earth?
Should Wealth, or Fame,
our Life employ,
Death comes, our labour
to destroy;
To snatch the untasted cup
away,
For which we toiled so many
a day.
What, then, remains for
wretched man?
To use life's comforts while
he can,
Enjoy the blessings Heaven
bestows,
Assist his friends, forgive
his foes;
Trust God, and keep His
statutes still,
Upright and firm, through
good and ill;
Thankful for all that God
has given,
Fixing his firmest hopes
on Heaven;
Knowing that earthly joys
decay,
But hoping through the darkest
day.
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