When morning gilds the skies

31 Laudes Domini 6. 6. 6. 6. 6. 6.

1. When morning gilds the skies
   my heart awaking cries:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   Alike at work and prayer,
   to Jesus I repair:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

2. Whene’er the sweet church bell
   peals over hill and dell,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   O hark to what it sings,
   as joyously it rings,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

3. The night becomes as day
   when from the heart we say:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   The powers of darkness fear
   when this sweet chant they hear:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

4. Ye nations of mankind,
   in this your concord find,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   let all the earth around
   ring joyous with the sound
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

5. In Heav’n’s eternal bliss
   the loveliest strain is this,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   Let earth, and sea and sky
   from depth to height reply,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

6. Be this, while life is mine,
   my canticle divine:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   Sing this eternal song
   through all the ages long:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
                         Anonymous German hymn
                         Translated by Edward Caswall
                         The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition

<idle musing>
Rarely have I run across a hymn with as many variations as this one! According to hymnary.org, Cyberhymnal has 15 verses! And of those, the Methodist hymnal's verse 4 isn't to be found! Here are the verses that the Methodist hymnal doesn't include:

2. When you begin the day,
   O never fail to say,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   And at your work rejoice,
   to sing with heart and voice,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
  

4. My tongue shall never tire
   of chanting with the choir,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   This song of sacred joy,
   it never seems to cloy,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

5. Does sadness fill my mind?
   A solace here I find,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   Or fades my earthly bliss?
   My comfort still is this,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

6. To God, the Word, on high,
   the host of angels cry,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   Let mortals, too, upraise
   their voice in hymns of praise,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

7. Be this at meals your grace,
   in every time and place;
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   Be this, when day is past,
   of all your thoughts the last
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

8. When mirth for music longs,
   this is my song of songs:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   When evening shadows fall,
   this rings my curfew call,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

9. When sleep her balm denies,
   my silent spirit sighs,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   When evil thoughts molest,
   with this I shield my breast,
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

11. No lovelier antiphon
   in all high Heav’n is known
   Than, Jesus Christ be praised!
   There to the eternal Word
   the eternal psalm is heard:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

12. Let all the earth around
   ring joyous with the sound:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!
   In Heaven’s eternal bliss
   the loveliest strain is this:
   May Jesus Christ be praised!

13. Sing, suns and stars of space,
   sing, ye that see His face,
   Sing, Jesus Christ be praised!
   God’s whole creation o’er,
   for aye and evermore
   Shall Jesus Christ be praised!

</idle musing>