Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America ‎#527

527. Brief life is here our portion

1 Brief life is here our portion,
Brief sorrow, short-lived care;
The life that knows no ending,
The tearless life, is there.

2 O happy retribution!
Short toil, eternal rest;
For mortals and for sinners
A mansion with the blest! A-men.

3 There grief is turned to pleasure,
Such pleasure as below
No human voice can utter,
No human heart can know.

4 And now we fight the battle,
But then shall wear the crown
Of full and everlasting
And passionless renown.

5 And now we watch and struggle,
And now we live in hope,
And Sion, in her anguish,
With Babylon must cope;

6 But he whom now we trust in
Shall then be seen and known,
And they that know and see him
Shall have him for their own.

7 The morning shall awaken,
The shadows shall decay,
And each true-hearted servant
Shall shine as doth the day.

8 There, God our King and portion,
In fullness of his grace,
We then shall see for ever,
And worship face to face.

9 O sweet and blessèd country,
The home of God's elect;
O sweet and blessèd country,
That eager hearts expect!

10 Jesus, in mercy bring us
To that dear land of rest,
Who art, with God the Father
And Spirit, ever blest.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Brief life is here our portion
• Translator: John Mason Neale, 1818 - 66
• Author: Bernard of Cluny, XII cent.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1958
• Topic: The Church Year: Lent; The Church Year: Saints' Days - Minor Festivals; The Life In Christ: Contemplation; The Life In Christ: Life Everlasting; The Life In Christ: Pilgrimage
• Notes: This hymn may also be sung to OSLO (No. 586)

Tune Information

• Name: ST. ALPHEGE
• Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805 - 76
• Meter: 7 6, 7 6.
• Key: G Major