Our lives, we are told, are but fleet­ing at best,
Like ros­es they fade and de­cay;
Then let us do good while the pre­sent is ours,
Be use­ful as long as we stay.

Refrain

Do good un­to others, do good while we can,
Our mo­ments how quick­ly they fly;
Remember the pro­verb, re­mem­ber it now,
We all can do good if we try.

A look or a smile, that in kind­ness we give,
May com­fort a de­so­late heart;
May sweet­en a life that is lone­ly and sad,
And hope to the wea­ry im­part.

Refrain

How ma­ny around us are stran­gers to God,
How many poor child­ren we see;
If such we could bring to the foot of the cross,
How grate­ful and glad we should be.

Refrain

We all can do good, and we all can be­stow
Some gift for the sake of the Lord;
If on­ly a cup of cold wa­ter we give,
Our souls will not lose their re­ward.

Refrain