Ah, tell me not of gold and treasure,
Of pomp and beauty here on earth!
There’s not a thing that gives me pleasure
Of all the world displays for worth.
Each heart will love and seek its own:
My goal is Christ, and Christ alone!
In Him I find mine exaltation,
My fairest visions of delight:
I feed mine eyes, mine expectation,
On Him alone, my Rest, my Light!
Each heart will seek and love its own:
My goal is Christ, and Christ alone!
The world and her pursuits will perish;
Her beauty’s fading like a flower;
The brightest schemes the flesh can cherish
Are but the pastime of an hour.
Each heart will seek and love its own:
My goal is Christ, and Christ alone!
Against this tower there’s no prevailing;
His kingdom passes not away;
His throne abides, despite assailing,
From henceforth unto endless day.
Each heart will seek and love its own:
My goal is Christ, and Christ alone!
His riches are too vast to measure;
His countenance is as the sun;
Apart from Him there’s naught of treasure;
He is the Changeless, living One.
Each heart will seek and love its own:
My goal is Christ, and Christ alone!
However rough the road and dreary,
His glory marks me out a way;
Howe’er in need, distressed, and weary,
His strength, His grace are as my day.
Each heart will seek and love its own:
My goal is Christ, and Christ alone!
And though a pilgrim I must wander,
Still absent from the One I love,
He soon will have me with Him yonder
In His own glory—realms above.
Triumphantly I therefore own,
My goal is Christ, and Christ alone!
Translated from the German.