Birds have their quiet nest,
Foxes their holes, and man his peaceful bed;
All creatures have their rest,
But Jesus had not where to lay his head.

And yet he came to give
The weary and the heavy-laden rest;
To bid the sinner live,
And soothe our griefs to slumber on his breast.

Let the birds seek their nest,
Foxes their holes, and man his peaceful bed;
Come, Saviour, in my breast
Come and repose thine oft rejected head!

Come! give me rest, and take
The only rest on earth thou lov’st, within
A heart that for thy sake
Shall purify itself from every sin.