Words: , Po­ems, 1871 (orig­in­al­ly, “For the dear love…”

Music: Ad­or­a­tion (Wood­man), , 1893.


For the deep love that kept us through the night,
And gave our senses to sleep’s gentle sway;
For this new wonder of morning’s dawning light,
Flushing the east with prophecies of day,
We thank Thee, O our God.

For the fresh life that through our being flows,
With its full tide to enrich and to bless;
For calm, sweet thoughts, upspringing from repose,
To bear to Thee our song of thankfulness,
We praise Thee, O our God.

Day utters speech to day, and night to night
Tells of Thy glory and power. So would we
Thy children, duly, with morning’s golden light,
Or still at eve, upon the bended knee,
Adore Thee, O our God.

Thou knowest our needs, Thy fullness will supply;
Our blindness, Thy hand will still lead us on;
Till we shall see the Dayspring from on high,
Our prayer, one only, “Let Thy will be done,”
We breathe to Thee, O God.