ONCE MORE, MY SOUL, THE RISING DAY

“Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night shows knowledge.” Psalm 19:2


Isaac Watts (1674-1748)
Words: Isaac Watts, Hymns and Spir­it­u­al Songs, Book II, 1709, num­ber 6.

Music: Pe­ter­bo­rough (Har­ris­on), Ralph Har­ris­on, 1786 (MI­DI, score).

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Once more, my soul, the rising day
Salutes thy waking eyes;
Once more, my voice, thy tribute pay
To Him that rules the skies.

Night unto night His Name repeats,
The day renews the sound,
Wide as the Heav’n on which He sits,
To turn the seasons round.

’Tis He supports my mortal frame,
My tongue shall speak His praise;
My sins would rouse His wrath to flame,
And yet His wrath delays.

On a poor worm Thy power might tread,
And I could ne’er withstand;
Thy justice might have crushed me dead,
But mercy held Thine hand.

A thousand wretched souls are fled
Since the last setting sun,
And yet Thou length’nest out my thread,
And yet my moments run.

Dear God, let all my hours be Thine,
Whilst I enjoy the light;
Then shall my sun in smiles decline,
And bring a pleasing night.