You help make Hymnary.org possible.

In 2025, more than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources, and encouragement here. If Hymnary has meant something to you this year, would you take a moment to help sustain it? A gift of any size — and a note of encouragement, if you'd like to share one — directly supports the server costs, research, and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org (c/o Calvin University)
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for being part of this important online ministry resource.

Prepare to Meet Thy God

Representative Text

1 Careless soul, why will you linger,
Wand’ring from the fold of God?
Hear you not the invitation?
O prepare to meet thy God.

Chorus:
Careless soul, O heed the warning,
For your life will soon be gone;
O how sad to face the judgment,
Unprepared to meet thy God.

2 Why so tho'tless are you standing
While the fleeting years go by,
And your life is spent in folly?
O prepare to meet thy God. [Chorus]

3 Hear you not the earnest pleadings
Of your friends that wish you well?
And perhaps before tomorrow
You’ll be called to meet your God. [Chorus)

4 If you spurn the invitation
Till the Spirit shall depart,
Then you’ll see your sad condition,
Unprepared to meet thy God. [Chorus]

Source: The New Wonderful Songs for Work and Worship #215

Author: James H. Stanley

James Henry Stanley, Feb. 2,1869 - June 1, 1954, was a singing school teacher, band director and hymn composer. He died in Saltillo, Miss., where he had been a resident for 60 years.He is buried at Springhill Presbyterian Church in Lee County. His best known composition was "Prepare to Meet Thy God," for which wrote music and lyrics. Carolyn Hurt Nichols (grandchild), from email 7-19-2018 Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Careless soul, why will you linger
Title: Prepare to Meet Thy God
Author: James H. Stanley (1909)
Meter: 8.7.8.7 D
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Careless soul, O heed the warning
Copyright: Public Domain

Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #5668
  • Adobe Acrobat image (PDF)
  • Noteworthy Composer score (NWC)
  • XML score (XML)

Instances in all hymnals

Instances (1 - 18 of 18)
Page Scan

Church Gospel Songs and Hymns #174

Page Scan

Evening Light Songs #459

Favorite Songs of the Church #690

Page Scan

Hymns for Worship #297

Our Sacrifice of Praise #47

Page Scan

Praise for the Lord (Expanded Edition) #538

Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs #829

Redeeming Love #208

Rejoice #265

Sacred Selections for the Church #633

Sacred Songs of the Church #442

Songs for Worship and Praise #890

Songs of the Church #602

Songs of the Saints #164

Standard Songs Of The Church #7

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #5668

Text

Timeless Truths #746

Wonderful Peace #248

Include 83 pre-1979 instances
Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.