HYMN NO. 597

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.

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 Zion, in her at cope; 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 Yes! 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 blessed country, The home of God’s elect! O sweet and blessed 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.