Hymnal: New Christian Hymn and Tune Book
Date: 1882
Compiler: Fillmore Brothers
Publisher/Printer: Fillmore Brothers
First Line: Ho reapers of life's harvest
Topic: Christian/Work
Writer: I Woodbury
Composer: I Woodbury
Meter: 7s and 6s double
Tune: Ho Reapers of Life's Harvest
Hymn Number: 612
Page Number: 231, click to see hymnal pages
LyicsHO! REAPERS of life's harvest,
Why stand with rusted blade,
Until the night draws round thee,
And day begins to fade?
Why stand ye idle, waiting
For reapers more to come?
The golden morn is passing:
Why sit ye idle, dumb?
Thrust in your sharpened sickle,
And gather in the grain:
The night is fast approaching,
And soon will come again.
The Master calls for reapers,
And shall he call in vain?
Shall sheaves lie there ungathered,
And waste upon the plain?
Come down from hill and mountain
In morning's ruddy glow,
Nor wait until the dial
Points to the noon below;
And come with stronger sinew,
Nor faint in heat or cold,
And pause not till the evening
Draws round its wealth of gold.
Mount up the heights of wisdom,
And crush each error low;
Keep back no word of knowledge
That human hearts should know.
Be faithful to thy mission,
In service of the Lord,
And then a golden chaplet
Shall be thy just reward.