O NOW, my soul, forget no more The Friend Who all your misery bore: Let every idol be forgot, But, O my soul, forget Him not.
Jesus for you a body takes, Your guilt assumes, your fetters breaks, Discharging all your dreadful debt; And can you e’er such love forget?
Renounce your works and ways with grief, And fly to this most sure relief; Nor Him forget Who left His throne, And for your life gave up His own.
Infinite Truth and mercy shine In Him, and He Himself is thine: And can you then, with sin beset, Such matchless attributes forget?
Ah! no; till life itself depart, His name shall cheer and warm my heart; And, praising Him, from earth I’ll rise, And join the chorus of the skies.
Ah! no; when all things else expire, And perish in the general fire, This name all others shall survive, And through eternity shall live.
Krishna Pal, 1764-1822, tr Joshua Marshman, 1768-1837