1 Lo! all ready for the gath'ring God's great harvest stands;
Hark! the reapers' song is ringing up and down the lands;
Hear you not the call for workmen sounding over hill and valley?
Answer quickly, bring to service willing hearts and hands.
Chorus:
Lo! the harvest ripe and ready stands today;
See, the Master cometh, and He comes this way,
Seeking for reapers; let us answer one and all,
For a great reward is offered if we heed His call.
Awake, awake! the harvest waits on ev'ry hill and plain;
Go, and gather in the sheaves of golden grain;
Reaping and binding, ere the harvest pass away,
Answer quickly, "We will work today."
2 "Great the need but few have answered," hear the Master say;
From the work of loyal service will you turn away?
O for love of Christ who calls you to be reapers in His harvest,
Answer "Master, I will gladly work for you today." [Chorus]
3 O ye idlers join the chorus of the harvest song,
Let its music rise to heaven all the hills along;
Those who reap God's grain and bind it, and go gleaning in the by-ways,
Find that work done for the Savior makes the weakest strong. [Chorus]
Source: The New Praiseworthy: for the Church and Sunday School #239
Rexford, Eben Eugene.M (Johnsburg, New York, July 16, 1848--October 16, 1916, Shiocton, Wisconsin). Horticulturalist and editor of a Wisconsin farm journal. Many of his verses were used to fill empty corners of the journal. He also wrote many books on gardening. Lawrence University (Appleton, Wisc.), Litt.D. Twenty-five years, organist at First Congregational Church, Shiocton.
See: Smith, Mary L.P. (1930). Eben E. Rexford; a biographical sketch. Menasha, Wis., George Banta Pub. Co.
--Leonard Ellinwood, DNAH Archives and Gabriel, Charles H. (1916). Singers and Their Songs. Chicago: The Rodeheaver Company.… Go to person page >
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