Have you no­thing to do? in this world of ours,
When weeds spring up with the fair­est flow­ers,
Where smiles have oft but a fit­ful play,
Where hearts are break­ing ev­ery day.

Refrain

Plenty to do! plen­ty to do!
O my bro­ther, there’s la­bor for you.

Have you no­thing to do? there are minds to teach
The simpl­est lang­uage of Chris­tian speech;
There are souls to win with your lov­ing wile,
From the low­est haunts of sin’s de­file.

Refrain

Have you no­thing to do? there are pray­ers to lay
On the al­tar, as in­cense by night and day;
There are foes to bat­tle, with­in, with­out,
And er­rors to con­quer though strong and stout.

Refrain

Have you no­thing to do? there are lambs to feed,
The pre­cious hope of the Church’s need,
And strength to be borne to the weak and faint,
And vi­gils to keep with the suf­fer­ing saint.

Refrain

Have you no­thing to do? O Chris­tian soul,
Why wrap thee round in thy self­ish stole?
Fling off thy gar­ments of sloth and sin,
For Christ, thy Lord, hath a world to win.

Refrain