Why Do You Wait?

Why do you wait, dear brother,
Oh, why do you tarry so long?
Your Savior is waiting to give you
A place in His sanctified throng.

Refrain

Why not? Why not?
Why not come to Him now?
Why not? Why not?
Why not come to Him now?

What do you hope, dear brother,
To gain by a further delay?
There’s no one to save you but Jesus,
There’s no other way but His way.

Refrain

Do you not feel, dear brother,
His Spirit now striving within?
Oh, why not accept His salvation,
And throw off your burden of sin?

Refrain

Why do your wait, dear brother?
The harvest is passing away,
Your Savior is longing to bless you,
There are danger and death in delay.

Refrain

Author: George F. Root

Year: 1878

George Frederick Root is the most commonly credited author of both words and music for this gospel song. Some hymnals list it simply as "Root" or attribute the text to an anonymous source, but the 1878 publication in "The Prize" and most reference works name Root.