Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America ‎#296

296. Now the laborer's task is o'er

1 Now the laborer's task is o'er;
Now the battle day is past;
Now upon the farther shore
Lands the voyager at last.

Refrain:
Father, in thy gracious keeping,
Leave we now thy servant sleeping. A-men.

2 There the tears of earth are dried,
There its hidden things are clear,
There the work of life is tried
By a juster judge than here. [Refrain]

3 There the penitents, that turn
To the cross their dying eyes,
All the love of Jesus learn
At his feet in Paradise. [Refrain]

4 'Earth to earth, and dust to dust,'
Calmly now the words we say;
Leaving him to sleep, in trust,
Till the resurrection-day. [Refrain]

(At sea, instead of stanza 4, the following shall be sung:)
5 'Till the sea gives up its dead,'
Calmly now the words we say,
Laid in ocean's quiet bed
Till the resurrection-day: [Refrain]

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Now the laborer's task is o'er
• Author: John Ellerton, 1826 - 93
• Refrain First Line: Father, in thy gracious keeping
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1958
• Topic: Sacraments and Rites: Burial of the Dead

Tune Information

• Name: REQUIESCAT
• Composer: John Bacchus Dykes, 1823 - 76
• Meter: 7 7, 7 7, 8 8.
• Key: C Major