1 After the joys of earth,
After its songs of mirth,
After its hours of light,
After its dreams so bright:
What then?
Only an empty name,
Only a weary frame,
Only a conscious smart,
Only an aching heart.

2 After an empty name,
After a weary frame,
After this conscious smart,
After an aching heart:
What then?
Only a sad farewell
To a world loved too well,
Only a silent bed,
With the forgotten dead.

3 After this sad farewell,
To a world loved too well,
After this silent bed,
With the forgotten dead:
What then?
Oh! then the judgment throne,
Oh! then the last hope gone,
Then all the woes that dwell
In an eternal hell!

4 But those whom sin has oppressed,
May have their fears put to rest;
All who in Christ believe
Eternal life receive;
What then?
When they accept the Son,
They paradise have won:
No flame, no dark abyss,
But everlasting bliss.