Not Now, But By and By

I saw the reapers one by one

Author: James Elliot
Tune: [I saw the reapers one by one]
Published in 5 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 I saw the reapers one by one
Their sheaves in triumph bear;
I knew their labor at an end,
And prayed their joy to share;
Be thou content, and bide thy time,
I heard a voice reply;
Thou too shalt go where they have gone,
Not now, but by and by.

Refrain:
Not now, but by and by,
I heard a voice reply;
There’s home and rest, and joy for thee,
Not now, but by and by.

2 Dear Lord, I said, thy precious words
My waning strength renew;
But O, I grieve and mourn to think
My harvest sheaves are few.
Toil on, the same sweet voice replied,
Thy days are gliding by,
And thou shalt join the reapers song,
Not now, but by and by. [Refrain]

3 No more, no more, dear Lord, I said,
Will I impatient be;
But through thy grace I’ll do thy work,
And leave it all with thee.
Though gath’ring clouds may sometimes cast
Dark shadows o’er the sky,
My soul shall tread the fields of light,
Not now, but by and by. [Refrain]

Source: Showers of Blessing #134

Author: James Elliot

Late 19th Century Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: I saw the reapers one by one
Title: Not Now, But By and By
Author: James Elliot
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Not now, but by and by
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #10574
  • PDF (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer Score (NWC)

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #10574

Include 4 pre-1979 instances
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