Above:  Clouds on the Horizon

Photographer = William Henry Jackson (1843-1942)

Image Source = Library of Congress

Reproduction Number = LC-DIG-det-4a16709

Text (1867; subsequently modified) by Walter Chalmers Smith (1824-1908)

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Walter Chalmers Smith altered his text.  As best as I can determine, the original six-stanza version of the hymn was as follows:

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.

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Unresting, unhasting, silent as light,

Nor striving, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;

Thy justice like mountains soaring above

Thy clouds which are are fountains of goodness and love.

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All live thou givest–to both great and small;

In all life livest, true life of all;

Thy blossom and flourish only are we,

To wither and perish–but nought changeth thee.

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Today and tomorrow with Thee still are now;

Nor trouble, nor sorrow, nor care, Lord, hast thou;

Nor passion doth fever, nor age can decay,

The same God for ever as on yesterday.

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Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,

Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;

But of all Thy good graces this grace, Lord, impart–

Take the veil from our faces, the veil from our heart.

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All laud we would render; O help us to see,

‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee;

And now let Thy glory to our gaze unroll

Through Christ in the story, and Christ in the soul.

Sources:  

The Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927), The Church of Scotland, The United Free Church of Scotland, The Presbyterian Church in Ireland, The Presbyterian Church of England, The Presbyterian Church of Wales, The Presbyterian Church of Australia, The Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, and The Presbyterian Church of South Africa

Moffatt, James, ed. Handbook to The Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927)

Stulken, Mary Kay, and Catherine Salika.  Hymnal Companion to Worship–Third Edition (1998), Roman Catholic Church

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Since The English Hymnal (1906), however, the standard version has been four stanzas long.  This has resulted from various minor changes, the omission of the original fourth stanza, the omission of the second halves of the original fifth and sixth stanzas, and the creation of a new fourth stanza from the first halves of the original fifth and sixth stanzas.

I have italicized changes from the version above.

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Immortal, invisible, God only wise,

In light accessible hid from our eyes,

Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,

Almighty, Victorious, Thy great name we praise.

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Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,

Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;

Thy justice like mountains high soaring above

Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

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To all life Thou givest–to both great and small;

In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;

We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,

And wither and perish–but nought changeth Thee.

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Great Father of Glory, pure Father of Light,

Thine Angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;

All laud we would render; O help us to see

‘Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee.

Other Sources:

Moffatt, James, ed. Handbook to The Church Hymnary–Revised Edition (1927)

Young, Carlton R.  Companion to The United Methodist Hymnal (1993)

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Above:  Mountain and Sky, Utah

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text (1680) by Joachim Neander (1650-1680)

Composite English Translation

Hymn Source = Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church (1917), The United Lutheran Church in America (1918-1962) and its immediate predecessor bodies

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Heaven and earth, and sea and air,

All their Maker’s praise declare;

Wake, my soul, awake and sing:

Now thy grateful praises bring.

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See the glorious orb of day

Breaking through the clouds his way;

Moon and stares with silvery light

Praise Him through the silent night.

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See how He hath ev’ry where

Made this earth so rich and fair;

Hill and vale and fruitful land,

All things living, show His hand.

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See how through the boundless sky

Fresh and free the birds do fly;

Fire and wind and storm are still

Servants of His royal will.

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See the water’s ceaseless flow,

Ever circling to and fro;

From the sources to the sea,

Still it rolls in praise to Thee.

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Lord, great wonders workest Thou!

To Thy sway all creatures bow.

Write Thou deeply in my heart

What I am, and what Thou art!

Above:  Clouds

Image in the Public Domain

Original German Text (1680) by Joachim Neander (1650-1680)

English Translation (1938) by William John Schaefer (1891-1976)

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

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Wondrous King, all-glorious,

Sov’reign Lord victorious,

Oh, receive our praise with favor!

From Thee welled God’s kindness

Tho’ we in our blindness

Strayed from Thee, our blessed Savior.

Strengthen Thou,

Help us now;

Let our tongues be singing,

Thee our praises bringing.

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Heavens, spread the story

Of our Maker’s glory,

All the pomp of earth obscuring,

Sun, thy rays be sending,

Thy bright beams expending,

Light to all the earth assuring.

Moon and star,

Praise afar

Him who glorious made you;

The vast heavens aid you.

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O my soul, rejoicing,

Sing, thy praises voicing,

Sing, with hymns of faith adore Him!

All who here have being,

Shout, your voices freeing,

Bow down in the dust before Him.

He is God Sabaoth;

Praise alone the Savior,

Here and there forever.

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Hallelujahs render

To the Lord most tender,

Te who know and love the Savior.

Hallelujahs sing ye,

Ye redeemed, oh, bring ye

Hearts that yield Him glad behavior.

Blest are ye

Endlessly;

Sinless there forever,

Ye shall laud Him ever.

Above: Suffused Light at Dawn

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1878) by Marianne Hearn (1834-1909)

Hymn Source = Worship and Song (1921), National Council of Congregational Churches

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Father most merciful!  Glad in the dawning

All things awake to sing praises to thee;

Thou art the giver of joy in the morning,

Spreading thy sunlight o’er meadow and sea.

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Bright birds soar up in the thin air to greet thee,

Sweet-scented blossoms look forth for thy face;

Thy children go out into daylight to meet thee,

Finding thy footprints in every new place.

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Father most merciful, give for our guerdon

Joy in thy presence whate’er may befall,

Courage to fight, or to carry the burden,

Faith to be cheerful and quiet through all.

Above:  Meadow of Flowers

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

Hymn Source = The English Hymnal (1906), The Church of England

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When spring unlocks the flowers to paint the laughing soil;

When summer’s balmy showers refresh the mower’s toil:

When winter binds in frosty chains the fallow and he flood;

In God the earth rejoiceth still, and owns his Maker good.

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The birds that wake the morning, and those that love the shade;

The winds that sweep the mountain, or lull the drowsy glade;

The sun that from his amber bower rejoiceth on his way,

The moon and stars–their Maker’s name in silent pomp display.

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Shall man, the lord of nature, expectant of the sky,

Shall man alone, unthankful, his little praise deny?

No; let the year forsake his course, the seasons cease to be,

Thee, Master, must we always love, and Saviour, honour thee.

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The flowers of spring may wither, the hope of summers fade,

The autumn droop in winter, the birds forsake the shade;

The winds be lulled, the sun and moon forget their old decree;

But we, in nature’s latest hour, O Lord, will cling to thee!

Above:  Lavender Field

Image in the Public Domain

Text by Reginald Heber (1783-1826)

Hymn Sources = The Hymnal 1940 (1943), The Episcopal Church; and The Hymnal 1940 Companion (1949)

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I praised the earth, in beauty seen,

With garlands gay of various green;

I praised the sea, whose ample field

Shone glorious as a silver shield;

And earth and ocean seemed to say,

“Our beauties are but for a day.”

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I praised the sun, whose chariot rolled

On wheels of amber and of gold;

I praised the moon, whose softer eye

Gleamed sweetly through the summer sky;

And moon and sun in answer said,

“Our days of light are numbered.”

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O God, O Good beyond compare,

If thus thy meaner works are fair,

If thus thy bounties gild the span

Of ruined earth and sinful man,

How glorious must the mansion be

Where thy redeemed shall dwell with thee!

Above:  Cranberry Harvest in New Jersey

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = American Lutheran Hymnal (1930) American Lutheran Church (1930-1960) and its immediate predecessors

Text (1838) by John Hampden Gurney (1802-1862)

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Lord of the harvest, Thee we hail!

Thine ancient promise doth not fail;

The varying seasons haste their round,

With goodness all our years are crowned;

Our thanks we pay

This festal day;

O let our hearts in tune be found.

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Lord of the harvest!  All is Thine:

The rains that fall, the suns that shine,

The seed once hidden in the ground,

The skill that makes our fruits abound;

New ev’ry year

Thy gifts appear;

New praises from our lips shall sound.

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Immortal honor, endless fame,

Attend th’Almighty Father’s name;

Like honor to th’Incarnate Son,

Who for lost man makes redemption won;

And equal praise

We thankful raise

To Thee, blest Spirit, with them One.

Above:  River in Mountains Spring

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Hymns of the Spirit for Use in the Free Churches of America (1937), American Unitarian Association and Universalist Church of America

Text (1867) by Thomas Hornblower Gill (1819-1906)

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The glory of the spring how sweet!

The newborn life how glad!

What joy the happy earth to greet

In new, bright raiment clad!

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Divine Renewer, thee I bless;

I greet thy going forth;

I thee love in the loveliness

Of thy renewed earth.

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But O these wonders of thy grace,

These nobler works of thine,

These marvels sweeter far to trace,

These new births more divine,–

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These sinful souls thou hallowest,

These hearts thou makest new,

These mourning souls by thee made blest,

These faithless hearts made true!

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Creator Spirit, work in me

These wonders sweet of thine!

Divine Renewer, graciously

Renew this heart of mine!

Above:  Landscape Summer Lake

Image in the Public Domain

Hymn Source = Hymns of the Spirit for Use in the Free Churches of America (1937), American Unitarian Association and Unitarian Church of America

Text (1852) by Thomas Hornblower Gill (1819-1906)

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I walk amidst thy beauty forth,

My joy thy praise declares;

I bless thee with thy blooming earth,

I drink thy vernal airs.

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Those old eternal hills of thine,

What mighty cheer they breathe!

What fulness of delight divine

Thy solemn stars bequeath!

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Each wonder of thy hand still makes

My gladness fresh and strong;

The glory of my God still wakes

The glory of my song.

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When cheer and strength my heart doth lack,

Thy gladness makes me whole;

Amidst thy summer I win back

The summer of my soul.

Above:  Autumn Trees

Image in the Public Domain

Text (1863) by Greville Phillimore (1821-1884)

Hymn Source = The Presbyterian Hymnal (1874), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

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Summer ended, harvest o’er,

Lord! to thee our song we pour,

For the valley’s golden yield,

For the fruits of tree and field;

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For the promise ever sure

That while heaven and earth endure

Seed-time, harvest, cold and heat

Shall their yearly round complete;

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For the care which, while we slept,

Watch o’er field and furrow kept,

Watch o’er all the buried grain,

Soon to burst to life again.

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When the reaping angels bring

Tares and wheat before the King,

Jesus! may we gathered be

In the heavenly barn to thee.

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Then the angel-cry shall sound,

Praise the Lamb; the lost are found;

And the answering song shall be,

Alleluia, praise to thee–

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Praise to thee, the toil is o’er;

Blight and curse shall be no more;

Lo! the mighty work is done:

Glory to the three in one.

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