1
Go, labor on; spend, and be spent;
Thy joy to do the Father’s will;
It is the way the Master went;
Should not the servant tread it still?
Thy joy to do the Father’s will;
It is the way the Master went;
Should not the servant tread it still?
DGo,
labor on; spend,
Aand
be
Dspent;
Thy joy to
Ado
the
DFath
er's
Awill;
It is the
Eway
the
E7Mas
ter
Awent;
DShould
not
D7the
Gser
vant
Atread
A7it
Dstill?
2
Go, labor on: ’tis not for nought;
Thy earthly loss is heav’nly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises, what are men?
Thy earthly loss is heav’nly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises, what are men?
Go, labor on: ’tis not for nought;
Thy earthly loss is heav’nly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises, what are men?
Thy earthly loss is heav’nly gain;
Men heed thee, love thee, praise thee not;
The Master praises, what are men?
3
Go, labor on; your hands are weak,
Your knees are faint, your souls cast down;
Yet falter not; the prize you seek
Is near, a kingdom and a crown.
Your knees are faint, your souls cast down;
Yet falter not; the prize you seek
Is near, a kingdom and a crown.
Go, labor on; your hands are weak,
Your knees are faint, your souls cast down;
Yet falter not; the prize you seek
Is near, a kingdom and a crown.
Your knees are faint, your souls cast down;
Yet falter not; the prize you seek
Is near, a kingdom and a crown.
4
Go, labor on while it is day,
The world’s dark night is hastening on;
Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away,
It is not thus that souls are won.
The world’s dark night is hastening on;
Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away,
It is not thus that souls are won.
Go, labor on while it is day,
The world’s dark night is hastening on;
Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away,
It is not thus that souls are won.
The world’s dark night is hastening on;
Speed, speed thy work, cast sloth away,
It is not thus that souls are won.
5
Men die in darkness at your side,
Without a hope to cheer the tomb;
Take up the torch and wave it wide,
The torch that lights time’s thickest gloom.
Without a hope to cheer the tomb;
Take up the torch and wave it wide,
The torch that lights time’s thickest gloom.
Men die in darkness at your side,
Without a hope to cheer the tomb;
Take up the torch and wave it wide,
The torch that lights time’s thickest gloom.
Without a hope to cheer the tomb;
Take up the torch and wave it wide,
The torch that lights time’s thickest gloom.
6
Press on, faint not, keep watch and pray;
Be wise the erring soul to win;
Go forth into the world’s highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in.
Be wise the erring soul to win;
Go forth into the world’s highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in.
Press on, faint not, keep watch and pray;
Be wise the erring soul to win;
Go forth into the world’s highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in.
Be wise the erring soul to win;
Go forth into the world’s highway,
Compel the wanderer to come in.
7
Press on, and in thy work rejoice;
For work comes rest, the prize thus won;
Soon shalt thou hear the Master’s voice,
The midnight cry, Behold, I come!
For work comes rest, the prize thus won;
Soon shalt thou hear the Master’s voice,
The midnight cry, Behold, I come!
Press on, and in thy work rejoice;
For work comes rest, the prize thus won;
Soon shalt thou hear the Master’s voice,
The midnight cry, Behold, I come!
For work comes rest, the prize thus won;
Soon shalt thou hear the Master’s voice,
The midnight cry, Behold, I come!
Delete Comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Tena, Greater-Accra, Ghana
I was taught this hymn in primary school in the year 2008. We are in 2025 now, and the words of this hymn strongly resonate with my spirit. I’ve got to labour on, and cast sloth away.
Belize, Central America, Belize
I was asleep and while sleeping I heard these words repeatedly "Go, labor on; spend, and be spent;" I woke up and searched this song and came across this means. I don't know the song but years ago my pastor Reverend Clark would use this line while preaching. This morning the Holy Ghost speaking!
Detroit, Michigan, United States
We sang this at our church prayer meeting last night. I was touched especially by "Go forth into the world's highway". I need to go more to sinners, not expect them to come to me.
Also "Compel the wanderer to come in". Lord, teach me to do that.
Lagos, Nigeria
Great hymn. It is indeed a legend and evergreen. I first sang it in the Anglican church in the 1970s. Very glad to see the lyrics again. It encourages every child of God to work diligently in the church even as Jesus has set an example for us. God will surely reward His faithful workers amen
Irving, TX, United States
On the individual side we need to pray and seek opportunity to speak forth the gospel even in the most simple way to those we come in contact with every day. Then in the Body we pray, fellowship, and take care of the ones we have brought to the Lord. This is a very great aspect of the church, which brings joy to the Lord, the saved ones, and to the Body!
Cape Cost, Central, Ghana
The touching part is "If the master praises, what are men" and "the midnight cry, Behold I come." It is good to work with the hope of heaven.
Adenta, Greater Accra, Ghana
This is the greatest encouragement for an intercessor. If the Master praises, what are men.
Let's be encouraged fellow workmen; God is up to something with us.
The goal is Jesus so go Labour on brethren.
Accra, Ghana
Sang this hymn for more than 40 years and each time with tears in my eyes. One day it will be over! And we shall hear the midnight cry BEHOLD I COME! But till then no room for slothfuness and human praise or insults
Singapore
A needful reminder of the most important task and calling to the Church. Current state of the world beckons us "Go labour on"!
Dubai, Frij Al Murar, United Arab Emirates
If the whole Master went through suffering for the sin He has not committed just to safe His people.
Then we the servants needs not to complain anymore let consider part of the 5 stanza and it goes "Men die in darkness at your side,
Take up the torch and wave it wide," meaning there's a darkness ahead of us and what darkness means to us is suffering.
May God fill our touches with fuel so that we may not run out.
God bless is more