What Are We For?

Why have we lips

if not to sing

The prais­es of our heav’n­ly king?

Why have we hearts

if not to love

Our Fa­ther and our friend above?

What are we for? What are we for?

What are we for?

What are we for

but to serve the Lord

With ev­ery deed

and thought and word?

Why were our cu­ri­ous bo­dies made

And ev­ery part in or­der laid?

Why

but that each of us might stand

A liv­ing won­der from His hand?

Why have we souls

if not to know

The God from whom our mer­cies flow?

Sure this can nev­er be our lot

Like sense­less brutes

to know Him not!

Why have we life? If not to gain

Immortal life

’tis worse than vain;

This is the end for which ’twas giv’n—

We live on earth

to live in Heav’n.

Why did the Sav­ior leave the sky

Hang on a cross

and bleed and die?

And why are kind per­sua­sions sent

To call and win us to re­pent?

Surely it is—that robed in white

And made well-pleas­ing in His sight

Our souls may join the hap­py throng

And sing the ev­er­last­ing song.