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.