Friday, May 03, 2024

O Lord of heaven and earth and sea

541 Oldbridge. 8. 8. 8. 4.

1 O Lord of heaven and earth and sea,
   to thee all praise and glory be.
   How shall we show our love to thee
   who givest all?

2 The golden sunshine, vernal air,
   sweet flowers and fruit, thy love declare;
   when harvests ripen, thou art there,
   who givest all.

3 For peaceful homes, and healthful days,
   for all the blessings earth displays,
   we owe thee thankfulness and praise,
   who givest all.

4 For souls redeemed, for sins forgiven,
   for means of grace and hopes of heaven,
   Father, what can to thee be given,
   who givest all?

5 We lose what on ourselves we spend,
   we have as treasure without end
   whatever, Lord, to thee we lend,
   who givest all.

6 To thee, from whom we all derive
   our life, our gifts, our power to give:
   O may we ever with thee live,
   who givest all.
                         Christopher Wordsworth
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
No, not that Wordworth! He's this one's uncle! Some hymnals insert two verses:

4 Thou didst not spare thine only Son,
   but gav'st him for a world undone,
   and freely with that blessèd One
   thou givest all.

5 Thou giv'st the Holy Spirit's dower,
   Spirit of life and love and power,
   and dost his sevenfold graces shower
   upon us all.

And others insert a chorus:
We'll sing thy praise in songs of holy joy!
Thy work, O Lord, shall all our pow'rs employ!
Souls redeemed and sins forgiv'n,
For means of grace and hopes of heav'n,
Thou didst not spare thine only Son,
But freely gave that blessed One
To save us all.
</idle musing>

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