Skip to main content

"Beneath the Sun" (Lyrics and Links) A Hymn Based on Ecclesiastes, by Dustin Battles

Several people have asked for the streamlined version of my new hymn. So here are the lyrics and links to my new hymn, "Beneath the Sun."

Lyrics:


1.
Beneath the sun my soul is sighing:
how brief a vapor is my life!
My gain is gone, my days are dying.
I chase the wind and stir up strife.
Why is my life, O God, not fruitful?
Will nothing last that I have done? 
Life is unfair, for all is futile.
There's nothing new beneath the sun. 

[2.]
I told myself, “Perhaps some pleasure
will fill the void within my soul.
Perhaps hard work or gaining treasure
will make me wise and not a fool.”
But my delight turned into sorrow,
transformed before my very eyes.
What charms today dissolves tomorrow.
Earth never fully satisfies.

3.
There is a season under heaven,
a task and time for everything.
I cannot grasp the span I’m given,
or know what future days will bring.
Time is not mine to store or squander:
life is God’s gift to everyone.
Go, eat and drink in joy, yet ponder
the work of wisdom He has done.

[4.]
The wise embrace the house of mourning,
for days are not like wealth to spend.
But fools reject the fateful warning:
the grave will greet us in the end.
What words of woe await the wicked?
Will they escape the judgment throne?
The Shepherd will condemn the crooked: 
exposing all, excusing none.

5. 
Our joy is tempered by frustration
amid the earth's futility,
but God will soon renew creation,
His plan from all eternity.
So the conclusion of the matter:
fear God and do as He commands.
We will remember You, Creator!
Our souls and works are in Your hands.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Forsaken—with Dan Forrest

A forthcoming choral anthem published by Beckenhorst Press features my lyrics and music by Dan Forrest. Dan wrote some sobering but powerful music that completely captures the grief Christ's sacrifice expressed in the text. The text is written in a 1st-person narrative by Christ in the garden of Gethsemene and on the cross at Golgotha. “How long, My God, will You neglect My prayer? Will You forget these tears of dark despair? Yet not My will, but Yours alone be done: Forsake not man, but Me—Your sinless Son. I, Christ the Son, obey Your great command, Enduring punishment for sinful man. As Son and silent Lamb, I choose this path: Accept rejection to appease Your wrath.” “O why, My God, have You forsaken Me? Why have You now refused My final plea? Though I cry out in sorrow, pain, and fear, You turn Your back; in silence, disappear. I, Christ the Son, bear all their sin alone, Embracing judgment from Your glorious throne. As Son and spotless Lamb, ...
3 comments
Read more

"Beneath the Sun" (Annotated) A Hymn Based on Ecclesiastes by Dustin Battles

Beneath the Sun A hymn based on the book of Ecclesiastes Words: © 2022 Dustin Battles Tune: WAYFARING STRANGER Lyrics with footnotes to Scripture passages: 1. Beneath the sun [1]  my soul is sighing: [2] how brief a vapor [3]   is my life ! [4] My gain is gone , [5]   my days  are dying. [6] I chase the wind [7]  and   stir up  strife. [8] Why is my life,  O God , not fruitful? [9] Will nothing last that I have done? [10]   Life is  unfair, [11]   for all is futile. [12] There's nothing new beneath the sun . [13]   [ 2 . ] I told myself, “Perhaps some pleasure [14] will fill the void  within my soul. [15] Perhaps hard work [16]  or gaining treasure [17] will make me wise [18]  and not a fool.” [19] But my delight [20]  turned into sorro w , [21] transformed before my very eyes. [22] What charms today dissolves tomorrow. [23] Earth never fully satisfies. 3 . There is a season under heave...
1 comment
Read more