Brevity of Life

1 Like shadows that fly,
Like clouds in the sky,
Or vapors that vanish away;
Our lives disappear,
We cease to be here,
Death comes and his call we obey.

2 How swiftly we flee,
Like ships on the sea,
Or eagles that haste to the prey;
As stars shoot at night,
Our years take their flight,
We fall as the leaves that decay.

3 As grass of the field,
Our bodies we yield
To death who cuts down young and old;
A moment is all
Our life we can call,
'Tis spent as a tale that is told.

Source: Light and Life: a collection of new hymns and tunes for sunday schools, prayer meetings, praise meetings and revival meetings #51