Scripture Verse

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them. Ecclesiastes 12:1

Introduction

portrait
Samuel F. Smith
(1808–1895)

Words: Sam­uel F. Smith, in the Ma­nu­al of Chris­tian Psal­mo­dy, ed­it­ed by Ru­fus Bab­cock, Da­vid Greene & Lo­well Ma­son (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Perk­ins & Mar­vin, 1832), page 580.

Music: Cu­vil Da­vid’s Harp, ed­it­ed by H. W. Day (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Hart­ley Wood, 1842), num­ber 82 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

Lyrics

Remember thy Cre­at­or,
While youth’s fair spring is bright,
Before thy cares are great­er,
Before comes age’s night.
While yet the sun shines o’er thee,
While stars the dark­ness cheer,
While life is all be­fore thee,
Thy great Cre­at­or fear.

Remember thy Cre­at­or,
E’er life re­signs its trust,
E’er sinks dis­solv­ing na­ture,
And dust re­turns to dust.
Before, with God, who gave it,
The spir­it shall ap­pear,
He cries, who died to save it,
Thy great Cre­at­or fear.