1.

Brief your life, a hairbreadth wide,
Short your days, an ebbing tide,
Like a weaver’s shuttle, see them swiftly fly.
Fast your time is passing by,
Yet a long eternity
You must spend in sorrow or eternal joy.
O be sure to choose the right so that you’ll not be put to shame,
Nor be placed among the foolish who can ne’er God’s rest attain.
Live by faith, turn not aside;
Then in God you will abide,
And reward and praise from Him you will receive.

2.

Now the door is open wide,
And the way to life is made;
So make sure that also you can enter in!
Many try this way, indeed,
Yet they never can succeed,
For they do not seek wholeheartedly to win.
O dear friend, do not grow weary, but press on each day and hour.
Every effort make, for surely God will give sufficient pow’r.
Your excuses will not do,
For the way was made for you
And is open now for whomsoever will.

3.

Run the race with all your might,
For to win the prize—your right,
But be sure you run the race unto the end.
Leaving all that is behind,
Cast away the things that bind,
So that clothed before Jehovah you can stand.
Hasten, friend, the goal’s before you; never pause to take a rest.
Woe, if e’er you look behind you and the wife of Lot forget.
Of Delilah’s wiles beware,
For this is a deadly snare;
Seek not favor or success in worldliness.
(Judg. 16:4-20)

Written by Thorleif Hansen (published in 1914)Composed by Johannes A. HultmanText © Stiftelsen Skjulte Skatters ForlagMelody © Waldenstrøm, SverigeNorway ⋅ G