(Thursday, 20th August 2026)
[Verse 1]
Trees may stand through ages long,
Rooted deep and growing strong;
Yet the breath of man is brief,
Passing like a fading leaf.
None can boast of years to come;
Dust at last must call us home.
[Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
[Verse 2]
Why should men for Earth contend,
When all earthly treasures end?
Greed may strive for field and land,
Riches gathered by the hand;
Yet the soul is worth far more
Than the wealth that men adore.
[Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
[Verse 3]
Christ once warned the rich in pride,
Who laid earthly goods aside:
"Soul, thou hast enough in store,"
Yet that night he lived no more.
So let greed no heart control;
What is land compared with soul?
[Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
[Verse 4]
Yesterday has passed away,
Nearer is our final day;
Once a child, then youth appears,
Swiftly come advancing years.
Ten and twenty, thirty, more—
Still we journey toward the shore.
[Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
[Verse 5]
Job declared that flesh shall cease,
All return to dust in peace;
Foolish is the heart that spends
All on flesh that quickly ends.
Wise is he who counts the cost,
Guarding well his soul from loss.
[Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
[Verse 6]
Fools may say, "There is no God,"
Walking proudly on the broad;
But the wise will seek His face,
Live in fear and walk in grace.
Though the world may gain our eyes,
Heaven holds the richer prize.
[Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
[Verse 7]
Every day belongs to Thee;
None can claim what is to be.
We can tell of days gone by,
Not of dawns that yet may lie.
Tomorrow rests within Thy hand;
Thou alone dost understand.
[Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
[Verse 8]
Death will surely come one day;
None can turn his feet away.
Young or old, both great and small,
Each must answer to the call.
Father, when our race is done,
May we hear Thy glad "Well done."
[Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
[Verse 9]
Teach us, Lord, to watch and pray,
Serving Thee from day to day;
Let not wealth or earthly gain
Make our fleeting journey vain.
When death finds us at the end,
May good works our souls attend.
[Final Chorus]
Closer, closer every day,
Earthly years will pass away;
Teach us, Father, while we live,
All our hearts to Thee to give.
When at last our journey ends,
May good works be in our hands.
