I Cannot Be Idle

I found this hymn on the same site where I found the hymn from yesterday's post.

I cannot be idle, for Jesus says, “Go

And work in My harvest today;

And then at the evening, when labor is done,

Whatever is right I will pay.”

Refrain:

Then away to the work I will go,

And join in the reaping of grain,

And back from the harvest with beautiful sheaves,

I’ll come with rejoicing again.

I cannot be idle, the fields are so white,

And numberless sheaves will be lost;

They perish for want of more reapers to save,

How awful to think of the cost!

I cannot be idle, soon time will be o’er,

And reaping be ended for aye;

I’ll gather the lost from the byways of sin

To walk in the beautiful way.

I cannot be idle, no time for repose,

My resting shall be over there,

Where all of the faithful in heaven above

A crown of bright glory shall wear.

~ William J. Henry, 1897