O VAIN world, of thee I weary!
Heav’nly rest I long see
Earth is sorrowful and dreary;
God, when wilt Thou summon me?
Summon me! For I with gladness
Long to leave this world of sadness.
And I know, through Jesus’ blood
Thou wilt make life’s ending good.
[* Death cannot dispel my pleasure,
For with life I’m satisfied;
He who may so long a measure
In this vale of tears reside
Will the passing moments number
Till the weights that him encumber
Shall dissolve, and he depart
To the pleasure of his heart.]
2 Patiently my back I offer
To life’s crosses I must bear;
I‘m indebted more to suffer
Than what pains God bids me share;
Yet I know that suff’ring never
From His love has pow’r to sever,
But the cross’s heavy load
Must be for my greater good.
3 Death would bring sweet consolation:
For I would my Jesus see
And inherit His salvation;
Would that this the day might be!
Yet who knows how long the season
Till I quit life’s painful prison,
And at last complete my course
Where my road shall meet its source?
4 Shall my limbs to dust be stricken,
I am not afraid at all,
’Tis enough that Christ will quicken
And awake me with His call.
Jesus will the moments number
While my limbs are sunk in slumber,
And the soul abides above
In the glories of God’s love.
5 Death therefore to me is blessing
Dying is my gain, I say:
Come, ye angels, come to meet me,
Bear my soul to life away!
Even now a taste is given
Of that blessed life in heaven;
This therefore I wish alone:
That with eyes it may be known.
6 All who here with love have known me,
All to whom I was a friend ,
Those who grieve at my departing—
To God’s keeping I commend;
God sustain you, stay beside you
Guard you and all things provide you;
Now my house is set aright,
Thee I bid, vain world, Good night!
Translation © 2015 Matthew Carver.
Translation updated 2. Oct. 2025.
GERMAN
From a 1733 Hymnal (without spurious stanza).
A 1740 Hymnal with spurious stanza (omitting st. 4).
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