Stanza 1
Martha her love and joy expressed
By care to entertain her guest;
While Mary sat to hear her Lord,
And could not bear to lose a word.
Stanza 2
The principle in both the same,
Produced in each a different aim;
The one to feast the LORD was led,
The other waited to be fed.
Stanza 3
But Mary chose the better part,
Her Savior's words refreshed her heart;
While busy Martha angry grew,
And lost her time and temper too.
Stanza 4
With warmth she to her sister spoke,
But brought upon herself rebuke;
One thing is needful, and but one,
Why do thy thoughts on many run?
Stanza 5
How oft are we like Martha vexed,
Encumbered, hurried, and perplexed!
While trifles so engross our thought,
The one thing needful is forgot.
Stanza 6
LORD teach us this one thing to choose,
Which they who gain can never lose;
Sufficient in itself alone,
And needful, were the world our own.
Stanza 7
Let groveling hearts the world admire,
Thy love is all that I require!
Gladly I may the rest resign,
If the one needful thing be mine!