I cannot be idle, for Je­sus says, Go
And work in My harvest today;
And then at the evening when labor is done,
Whatever is right I will pay.

Refrain

Then away to the work I will go
And join in the reaping of grain,
And back from the harvest with beau­ti­ful sheaves
I’ll come with rejoicing again.

I cannot be idle, the fields are so white,
And numberless sheaves will be lost;
They perish for want of more reapers to save—
How awful to think of the cost!

Refrain

I cannot be idle, soon time will be o’er,
And reaping be ended for aye;
I’ll gather the lost from the byways of sin
To walk in the beau­ti­ful way.

Refrain

I cannot be idle, no time for repose,
My resting shall be over there,
Where all of the faithful in Hea­ven above
A crown of bright glo­ry shall wear.

Refrain