1 Eternal Father! who can tell
The years of Thy right hand?
Like sunbeams bright, but numberless,
Or as the ocean’s sand.

2 Thine ageless age no limit knows,
No dawn began Thy day,
Nor evening shade shall ever fall
Upon Thy glorious way.

3 All time is but a fleeting wave
Upon Thy calm, deep sea,
A fading leaf that feebly falls
From life’s eternal tree.

4 Yet unto Thee, our fleeting years,
Our fading days, are known,
And every hour its message bears
Up to th’eternal throne.

5 Old year, farewell! Thou’rt gone to God,
Gone to record our life,
Its poor success, its wasted hours,
Its oft unworthy strife.

6 New year, all hail! Thou’rt come from God,
Blest be thy dawning bright!
Blest be thy swiftly fleeting hours!
And blest thy evening light!

7 Into the hand of Him who died,
Who evermore doth live,
This strange and solemn New Year’s path
In trustful prayer we give.

8 Enough for us to hear His voice,
To feel His guiding hand,
To know each step is bringing us
Nearer the Better Land.