It Is Not Death to Die

It is not death to die,
To leave this weary road,
And midst the brotherhood on high
To be at home with God.

It is not death to close
The eye long dimmed by tears,
And wake, in glorious repose,
To spend eternal years.

It is not death to bear
The wrench that sets us free
From dungeon chain, to breath the air
Of boundless liberty.

It is not death to fling
Aside this sinful dust
And rise, on strong exulting wing
To live among the just.

Jesus, Thou Prince of Life,
Thy chosen cannot die:
Like Thee, they conquer in the strife
To reign with Thee on high.

Author: Henri Malan

Year: 1832

Original French text "Non, ce n'est pas mourir" written by Henri Abraham César Malan in 1832; English translation by George Bethune in 1847. The given English lyrics closely follow Bethune's version.