Turn back, O man

Turn back, O man, forswear thy foolish ways

1 Turn back, O mortal, quit thy foolish ways.
Old now is earth, and none may count her days,
Yet thou, its child, whose head is crowned with flame
Still wilt not hear thine inner God proclaim,
“Turn back, O mortal, quit thy foolish ways.”

2 Earth might be fair, and people glad and wise.
Age after age their tragic empires rise,
Built while they dream, and in that dreaming weep.
Would they but wake from out their haunted sleep,
Earth shall be fair, and people glad and wise.

3 Earth shall be fair, and all its people one,
Nor till that hour shall God’s whole will be done!
Now, even now, once more from earth to sky
Peals forth in joy the old, undaunted cry,
“Earth shall be fair, and all its people one.”