How many pass the guil­ty night
In re­vel­ings and fran­tic mirth!
The crea­ture is their sole de­light,
Their hap­pi­ness the things of earth;
For us suf­fice the sea­son past;
We choose the bet­ter part at last.

We will not close our wake­ful eyes
We will not let our eye­lids sleep,
But hum­bly lift them to the skies,
And all a so­lemn vi­gil keep;
So ma­ny years on sin be­stowed,
Can we not watch one night for God!

We can, O Je­sus, for Thy sake,
Devote our ev­ery hour to Thee;
Speak but the word, our souls shall wake,
And sing with cheer­ful me­lo­dy;
Thy praise shall our glad tongues em­ploy,
And ev­ery heart shall dance for joy.

O may we all tri­um­phant rise,
With joy up­on our heads re­turn,
And far above those ne­ther skies,
By Thee on ea­gles’ wings up­borne,
Through all yon ra­di­ant cir­cles move,
And gain the high­est hea­ven of love!