LYRICS
| Meter: | 8 6 8 6 (C.M.)
| | Writer(s): | Nicholas Brady & Nahum Tate
| | Transl/Adapt: |
| | Dates: | 1696
| | Bible Refs: | Ps 49:1-12
| A New Version of the Psalms of David
| 1821
| 49
|
| 1. Let all the list'ning world attend,
and my instruction hear;
Let high and low, and rich and poor,
with joint consent give ear.
2. My mouth, with sacred wisdom filled,
shall good advice impart,
The sound result of prudent thoughts,
digested in my heart.
3. To parables of weighty sense
I will my ear incline;
Whilst to my tuneful: harp I sing
dark words of deep design.
4. Why should my courage fail in times
of dangers and of doubt?
When sinners, that would me supplant,
have compassed me about?
5. Those men that all their hope and trust
in heaps of treasure place,
And boast and triumph, when they see
their ill-got wealth increase,
6. Are yet unable from the grave
their dearest friend to free;
Nor can by force or bribes reverse
th' Almighty Lord's decree.
7. Their vain endeavors they must quit;
the price is held too high:
No sums can purchase such a grant,
that man should never die.
8. Not wisdom can the wise exempt,
nor fools their folly save;
But both must perish, and in death
their wealth to others leave.
9. For though they think their stately seats:
shall ne'er to ruin fall;
But their remembrance last in lauds
which by their names they call.
10. Yet shall their fame he soon forgot,
how great soe'er their state;
With beasts their memory and they
shall share one common fate.
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