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Benedicite
The “Benedicite” is a hymn or canticle used interchangeably with the “Te Deum” in the Morning Prayer of the Church of England. It is taken from the Apocrypha, where it appears as an addition to the Book of Daniel, and is there called “The Song of the Three Holy Children.”
There is no Hebrew version of the Song. It is only found in the Greek, and in that language was circulated everywhere with the Septuagint translation of the Old Testament. The Benedicite was used as a hymn by the Jews for a century or two before the birth of Christ, and is therefore some five hundred years older than the Te Deum; and it was adopted by the Christians in their public worship at a very early period.
The frequent repetition of the refrain, “Bless ye the Lord, praise Him and magnify Him for ever,” gives great dignity to this call upon the creatures to join with man in the praises of his Maker.
It may be mentioned that the thirty-two Rondels on the successive verses of the Benedicite, each with a different refrain, were composed (not consecutively) in various places in England and Scotland, during the years 1883 and 1884.
The Author desires to add that twenty of the poems in Lyra Pastoralis have not appeared in his former volumes.
O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O all ye Works of God most High,
Bless ye the Lord and praise His Name;
Whose hand has built this goodly frame
Of emerald earth and sapphire sky;
And fashioned man to magnify
His love, and spread abroad His fame:
O all ye Works of God most High,
Bless ye the Lord and praise His Name.
Bless ye the Lord and praise His Name;
Whose hand has built this goodly frame
Of emerald earth and sapphire sky;
And fashioned man to magnify
His love, and spread abroad His fame:
O all ye Works of God most High,
Bless ye the Lord and praise His Name.
Ye mighty suns through space that fly,
Ye glow-worms with your tiny flame,
From the same source of light ye came
To shine before your Maker's eye:
O all ye Works of God most High,
Bless ye the Lord and praise His Name.
Ye glow-worms with your tiny flame,
From the same source of light ye came
To shine before your Maker's eye:
O all ye Works of God most High,
Bless ye the Lord and praise His Name.
O ye Angels of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye Angels, praise Him evermore,
Your Lord and Master glorify;
And “Holy, Holy, Holy” cry,
As veiled ye stand His face before;
Or spread your willing wings to soar
And flash His mandates through the sky:
Ye Angels, praise Him evermore,
Your Lord and Master glorify.
Your Lord and Master glorify;
And “Holy, Holy, Holy” cry,
As veiled ye stand His face before;
Or spread your willing wings to soar
And flash His mandates through the sky:
Ye Angels, praise Him evermore,
Your Lord and Master glorify.
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Wondering ye marked Him when He wore
The garb of our mortality;
Ye saw Him weep, ye heard Him sigh,
And succour to His sorrow bore:
Ye Angels, praise Him evermore,
Your Lord and Master glorify.
The garb of our mortality;
Ye saw Him weep, ye heard Him sigh,
And succour to His sorrow bore:
Ye Angels, praise Him evermore,
Your Lord and Master glorify.
O ye Heavens, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye Heavens, with your encircling blue,
Prepare a temple for His praise;
An azure dome of song upraise,
Distilling music like the dew;
Let angels warble out of view,
And men reply with gladsome lays:
Ye Heavens, with your encircling blue,
Prepare a temple for His praise.
Prepare a temple for His praise;
An azure dome of song upraise,
Distilling music like the dew;
Let angels warble out of view,
And men reply with gladsome lays:
Ye Heavens, with your encircling blue,
Prepare a temple for His praise.
Ye larks, to rosy dawn be true,
Ascending your melodious ways;
Ye linnets, charm the listening days,
And nightingales, the strain renew:
Ye Heavens, with your encircling blue,
Prepare a temple for His praise.
Ascending your melodious ways;
Ye linnets, charm the listening days,
And nightingales, the strain renew:
Ye Heavens, with your encircling blue,
Prepare a temple for His praise.
O ye Waters that be above the firmament, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye watery Clouds, His praises bear,
Where'er ye float o'er sea and land;
Pile up your fleecy masses grand—
Your snowy castles in the air:
And God's artillery prepare
To thunder forth at His command:
Ye watery Clouds, His praises bear,
Where'er ye float o'er sea and land.
Where'er ye float o'er sea and land;
Pile up your fleecy masses grand—
Your snowy castles in the air:
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To thunder forth at His command:
Ye watery Clouds, His praises bear,
Where'er ye float o'er sea and land.
Rain down your largess everywhere
O'er field and wood with lavish hand;
Till touched, as with a magic wand,
All earth a radiant garland wear:
Ye watery Clouds, His praises bear,
Where'er ye float o'er sea and land.
O'er field and wood with lavish hand;
Till touched, as with a magic wand,
All earth a radiant garland wear:
Ye watery Clouds, His praises bear,
Where'er ye float o'er sea and land.
O all ye Powers of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Bless ye the Lord, O all ye Powers,
Who sing above or serve below;
O seraphs, with devotion glow
Amid your everlasting bowers;
In praise of Him, both yours and ours,
Let music unimagined flow:
Bless ye the Lord, O all ye Powers,
Who sing above or serve below.
Who sing above or serve below;
O seraphs, with devotion glow
Amid your everlasting bowers;
In praise of Him, both yours and ours,
Let music unimagined flow:
Bless ye the Lord, O all ye Powers,
Who sing above or serve below.
O men, uprear your stately towers,
And bid your labouring organs blow
High praise to Him, to whom ye owe
The hope which soothes your fleeting hours:
Bless ye the Lord, O all ye Powers,
Who sing above or serve below.
And bid your labouring organs blow
High praise to Him, to whom ye owe
The hope which soothes your fleeting hours:
Bless ye the Lord, O all ye Powers,
Who sing above or serve below.
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O ye Sun and Moon, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O Sun and Moon, dispense His praise,
Shine to His glory day and night:
Sun, bless Him when thy chariot bright
Ascends the high cerulean ways—
Bless Him with evening's crimson rays,
Bless Him with morning's golden light:
O Sun and Moon, dispense His praise,
Shine to His glory day and night.
Shine to His glory day and night:
Sun, bless Him when thy chariot bright
Ascends the high cerulean ways—
Bless Him with evening's crimson rays,
Bless Him with morning's golden light:
O Sun and Moon, dispense His praise,
Shine to His glory day and night.
O Moon, amid the starry maze
That dances round thee, sing His might;
Or, curtained in pavilion white
Of fleecy cloud, or circling haze:
O Sun and Moon, dispense His praise,
Sing to His glory day and night.
That dances round thee, sing His might;
Or, curtained in pavilion white
Of fleecy cloud, or circling haze:
O Sun and Moon, dispense His praise,
Sing to His glory day and night.
O ye Stars of Heaven, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O all ye Stars, that sweep through space,
Your Maker's praises bear along;
Flood Heaven's high dome with ceaseless song,
And shout for joy before God's face:
His power in shining letters trace,
Who keeps you bright and swift and strong:
O all ye Stars, that sweep through space,
Your Maker's praises bear along.
Your Maker's praises bear along;
Flood Heaven's high dome with ceaseless song,
And shout for joy before God's face:
His power in shining letters trace,
Who keeps you bright and swift and strong:
O all ye Stars, that sweep through space,
Your Maker's praises bear along.
O show me in what favoured place
He sits serene your hosts among,
Upholding all the countless throng,
Your Lord and ours—the Man of grace:
O all ye Stars, that sweep through space,
Your Maker's praises bear along.
He sits serene your hosts among,
Upholding all the countless throng,
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O all ye Stars, that sweep through space,
Your Maker's praises bear along.
O ye Showers and Dew, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O bless the Lord, ye Dews and Showers,
O'er all the earth His praise distil;
Increase the music of the rill,
Enrich the greenness of the bowers;
Freshen the faces of the flowers,
The laughing plains with plenty fill:
O bless the Lord, ye Dews and Showers,
O'er all the earth His praise distil.
O'er all the earth His praise distil;
Increase the music of the rill,
Enrich the greenness of the bowers;
Freshen the faces of the flowers,
The laughing plains with plenty fill:
O bless the Lord, ye Dews and Showers,
O'er all the earth His praise distil.
Ye Dews that cool the sultry hours,
Ye rains that work His secret will
In field and garden, vale and hill—
The love is His, the boon is ours:
O bless the Lord, ye Dews and Showers,
O'er all the earth His praise distil.
Ye rains that work His secret will
In field and garden, vale and hill—
The love is His, the boon is ours:
O bless the Lord, ye Dews and Showers,
O'er all the earth His praise distil.
O ye Winds of God, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O Winds of God, now loud, now low,
Round all the earth His praises bear;
Now softly scatter odours rare
Where'er your dewy footsteps go;
Now in the roaring pinewoods blow
A long-drawn thunder through the air:
O Winds of God, now loud, now low,
Round all the earth His praises bear.
Round all the earth His praises bear;
Now softly scatter odours rare
Where'er your dewy footsteps go;
Now in the roaring pinewoods blow
A long-drawn thunder through the air:
O Winds of God, now loud, now low,
Round all the earth His praises bear.
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For oh, the gracious Power we know
Who deigns your viewless form to wear,
A sweet, strong Influence everywhere,
To Whom our life of life we owe:
O Winds of God, now loud, now low,
Round all the earth His praises bear.
Who deigns your viewless form to wear,
A sweet, strong Influence everywhere,
To Whom our life of life we owe:
O Winds of God, now loud, now low,
Round all the earth His praises bear.
O ye Fire and Heat, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Bless ye the Lord, O Fire and Heat,
And spread your Maker's fame on high;
From yon vast furnace in the sky
His praise with throbbing pulses beat;
And borne on unseen pinions fleet
To each remotest planet fly:
Bless ye the Lord, O Fire and Heat,
And spread your Maker's praise on high.
And spread your Maker's fame on high;
From yon vast furnace in the sky
His praise with throbbing pulses beat;
And borne on unseen pinions fleet
To each remotest planet fly:
Bless ye the Lord, O Fire and Heat,
And spread your Maker's praise on high.
Life flushes forth beneath your feet,
And verdure to delight the eye:
All Nature, wanting you, must die;
All worlds your vital presence greet:
Bless ye the Lord, O Fire and Heat,
And spread your Maker's fame on high.
And verdure to delight the eye:
All Nature, wanting you, must die;
All worlds your vital presence greet:
Bless ye the Lord, O Fire and Heat,
And spread your Maker's fame on high.
O ye Winter and Summer, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O Summer, Winter, blend your strain,
And bless the Lord in gloom or glow:
O Summer, let your praises flow
As freely as the gentle rain,
Which feeds the grass and ripening grain,
And bids the rose and lily blow:
O Summer, Winter, blend your strain,
And bless the Lord in gloom or glow.
And bless the Lord in gloom or glow:
O Summer, let your praises flow
As freely as the gentle rain,
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And bids the rose and lily blow:
O Summer, Winter, blend your strain,
And bless the Lord in gloom or glow.
O Winter, your loud tempests chain,
And make a silence with your snow,
Softly to welcome Peace below,
And Righteousness without a stain:
O Summer, Winter, blend your strain,
And bless the Lord in gloom or glow.
And make a silence with your snow,
Softly to welcome Peace below,
And Righteousness without a stain:
O Summer, Winter, blend your strain,
And bless the Lord in gloom or glow.
O ye Dews and Frosts, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye gemmy Dews and sparkling Rime,
Bless ye the Lord from morn to morn:
Ye Dews, hang jewels on the corn,
Which lifts its spears in Summer-time;
Give freshness to the gracious prime,
And every blade of grass adorn:
Ye gemmy Dews and Sparkling Rime,
Bless ye the Lord from morn to morn.
Bless ye the Lord from morn to morn:
Ye Dews, hang jewels on the corn,
Which lifts its spears in Summer-time;
Give freshness to the gracious prime,
And every blade of grass adorn:
Ye gemmy Dews and Sparkling Rime,
Bless ye the Lord from morn to morn.
Hoar Frosts that deck our wintry clime
With beauty of the coldness born,
Impearling every twig and thorn,
Silvering the beech and leafless lime—
Ye gemmy Dews and sparkling Rime,
Bless ye the Lord from morn to morn
With beauty of the coldness born,
Impearling every twig and thorn,
Silvering the beech and leafless lime—
Ye gemmy Dews and sparkling Rime,
Bless ye the Lord from morn to morn
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O ye Frost and Cold, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O Frost and Cold, His Word fulfil,
And breathe from silent lips His praise;
On tree and pane a fretwork raise
Whose beauty baffles human skill;
And in the field and garden kill
The weedy growth of Summer days:
O Frost and Cold, His Word fulfil,
And breathe from silent lips His praise.
And breathe from silent lips His praise;
On tree and pane a fretwork raise
Whose beauty baffles human skill;
And in the field and garden kill
The weedy growth of Summer days:
O Frost and Cold, His Word fulfil,
And breathe from silent lips His praise.
Pity in happy hearts instil
For wanderers on the homeless ways;
And payment urge, for bygone lays
To flutterers at the window-sill:
O Frost and Cold, His Word fulfil,
And breathe from silent lips His praise.
For wanderers on the homeless ways;
And payment urge, for bygone lays
To flutterers at the window-sill:
O Frost and Cold, His Word fulfil,
And breathe from silent lips His praise.
O ye Ice and Snow, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Bless ye the Lord, O Ice and Snow,
And shine and sparkle in His sight;
Give to the earth a mantle white,
Which like Christ's seamless coat shall glow,
The righteousness of saints to show,
Spotless, and fair, and pure as light:
Bless ye the Lord, O Ice and Snow,
And shine and sparkle in His sight.
And shine and sparkle in His sight;
Give to the earth a mantle white,
Which like Christ's seamless coat shall glow,
The righteousness of saints to show,
Spotless, and fair, and pure as light:
Bless ye the Lord, O Ice and Snow,
And shine and sparkle in His sight.
Though frozen rills may cease to flow,
Let Love's free stream be at its height;
And let Peace sit by firesides bright
And cheerly sing, while tempests blow,
“Bless ye the Lord, O Ice and Snow,
And shine and sparkle in His sight.”
Let Love's free stream be at its height;
And let Peace sit by firesides bright
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“Bless ye the Lord, O Ice and Snow,
And shine and sparkle in His sight.”
O ye Nights and Days, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Bless ye the Lord, O Nights and Days,
A dark-bright wreath for Him entwine:
“The days are Thine, the nights are Thine,”
And ring the changes of Thy praise.
Days weave for Thee their gladsome rays,
And nights with solemn lustre shine:
Bless ye the Lord, O Nights and Days,
A dark-bright wreath for Him entwine.
A dark-bright wreath for Him entwine:
“The days are Thine, the nights are Thine,”
And ring the changes of Thy praise.
Days weave for Thee their gladsome rays,
And nights with solemn lustre shine:
Bless ye the Lord, O Nights and Days,
A dark-bright wreath for Him entwine.
O may my days an anthem raise,
And songs resound from nights of mine—
Fair joys and gloomy griefs combine
To praise Him, Whose are all my ways:
Bless ye the Lord, O Nights and Days,
A dark-bright wreath for Him entwine.
And songs resound from nights of mine—
Fair joys and gloomy griefs combine
To praise Him, Whose are all my ways:
Bless ye the Lord, O Nights and Days,
A dark-bright wreath for Him entwine.
O ye Light and Darkness, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O Light and Darkness, come and go,
And waft His praise on balanced wing:
O Light, your morning glories bring,
For Him spread out your evening glow;
O'er all this beauteous world below
Your joy-inspiring radiance fling:
O Light and Darkness, come and go,
And waft His praise on balanced wing.
And waft His praise on balanced wing:
O Light, your morning glories bring,
For Him spread out your evening glow;
O'er all this beauteous world below
Your joy-inspiring radiance fling:
O Light and Darkness, come and go,
And waft His praise on balanced wing.
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O Darkness, bring your wondrous show
Of worlds above that shine and sing;
Make all your boundless spaces ring
With measured strains that ceaseless flow:
O Light and Darkness, come and go,
And waft His praise on balanced wing.
Of worlds above that shine and sing;
Make all your boundless spaces ring
With measured strains that ceaseless flow:
O Light and Darkness, come and go,
And waft His praise on balanced wing.
O ye Lightnings and Clouds, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Lightnings and Clouds, in praise of Him
Unfurl your banners in the sky:
Ye Lightnings, let your pennons fly,
Illumining the midnight dim,
Till all the landscape seems to swim
In fire, before the dazzled eye:
Lightnings and Clouds, in praise of Him,
Unfurl your banners in the sky.
Unfurl your banners in the sky:
Ye Lightnings, let your pennons fly,
Illumining the midnight dim,
Till all the landscape seems to swim
In fire, before the dazzled eye:
Lightnings and Clouds, in praise of Him,
Unfurl your banners in the sky.
Ye Clouds, upon the ocean's brim,
In sunset-hues your streamers dye;
Your gold and crimson wave on high
And beautify the horizon's rim:
Lightnings and Clouds, in praise of Him,
Unfurl your banners in the sky.
In sunset-hues your streamers dye;
Your gold and crimson wave on high
And beautify the horizon's rim:
Lightnings and Clouds, in praise of Him,
Unfurl your banners in the sky.
O let the Earth bless the Lord; yea, let it praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O let the Earth in fair array
Breathe to the Lord a gladsome strain;
Weave round her brow a radiant chain
Of apple-bloom or fragrant may,
And dance along her sunny way
Through waving grass and springing grain:
O let the Earth in fair array
Breathe to the Lord a gladsome strain:
Breathe to the Lord a gladsome strain;
Weave round her brow a radiant chain
Of apple-bloom or fragrant may,
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Through waving grass and springing grain:
O let the Earth in fair array
Breathe to the Lord a gladsome strain:
In sylvan aisles her worship pay,
Or praise Him by the azure main:
When morning smiles without a stain
Or evening dons her mantle grey—
O let the Earth in fair array
Breathe to the Lord a gladsome strain.
Or praise Him by the azure main:
When morning smiles without a stain
Or evening dons her mantle grey—
O let the Earth in fair array
Breathe to the Lord a gladsome strain.
O ye Mountains and Hills, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye Hills and Mountains, lift His praise,
To your high calling be ye true:
Let your pure summits pierce the blue,
And catch His earliest morning rays;
And with a lingering glory blaze
When earth puts on her twilight hue:
Ye Hills and Mountains, lift His praise,
To your high calling be ye true.
To your high calling be ye true:
Let your pure summits pierce the blue,
And catch His earliest morning rays;
And with a lingering glory blaze
When earth puts on her twilight hue:
Ye Hills and Mountains, lift His praise,
To your high calling be ye true.
Along your silent upland ways
His holy feet have brushed the dew,
When hiding out of human view
He sought lone nights for busy days:
Ye Hills and Mountains, lift His praise,
To your high calling be ye true.
His holy feet have brushed the dew,
When hiding out of human view
He sought lone nights for busy days:
Ye Hills and Mountains, lift His praise,
To your high calling be ye true.
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O all ye Green Things upon the earth, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O all ye Green Things on the earth,
Bless ye the Lord in sun and shade;
To whisper praises ye were made,
Or wave to Him in solemn mirth:
For this the towering pine had birth,
For this sprang forth each grassy blade:
O all ye Green Things on the earth,
Bless ye the Lord in sun and shade.
Bless ye the Lord in sun and shade;
To whisper praises ye were made,
Or wave to Him in solemn mirth:
For this the towering pine had birth,
For this sprang forth each grassy blade:
O all ye Green Things on the earth,
Bless ye the Lord in sun and shade.
Ye wayside weeds of little worth,
Ye ferns that fringe the woodland glade,
Ye dainty flowers that quickly fade,
Ye stedfast yews of mighty girth:
O all ye Green Things on the earth,
Bless ye the Lord in sun and shade.
Ye ferns that fringe the woodland glade,
Ye dainty flowers that quickly fade,
Ye stedfast yews of mighty girth:
O all ye Green Things on the earth,
Bless ye the Lord in sun and shade.
O ye Wells, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O Wells and Springs, where'er ye flow,
Bless God with your sweet undersong;
His ceaseless praises bear along,
Rippling and tinkling as ye go:
What though your voice is soft and low,
'Tis musical your flowers among:
O Wells and Springs, where'er ye flow,
Bless God with your sweet undersong.
Bless God with your sweet undersong;
His ceaseless praises bear along,
Rippling and tinkling as ye go:
What though your voice is soft and low,
'Tis musical your flowers among:
O Wells and Springs, where'er ye flow,
Bless God with your sweet undersong.
When fainting with the noonday glow,
Some traveller quaffs you, and is strong;
When under midnight's shining throng
A mirror to some star ye show:
O Wells and Springs, where'er ye flow,
Bless God with your sweet undersong.
Some traveller quaffs you, and is strong;
When under midnight's shining throng
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O Wells and Springs, where'er ye flow,
Bless God with your sweet undersong.
O ye Seas and Floods, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye Seas and Floods, with voice of might
Resound His Name for evermore:
Ye rushing falls that thunder o'er
The rifted rocks, and daze the sight:
Ye waves, that with your crests of white
Incessant dash upon the shore:
Ye Seas and Floods, with voice of might
Resound His Name for ever.
Resound His Name for evermore:
Ye rushing falls that thunder o'er
The rifted rocks, and daze the sight:
Ye waves, that with your crests of white
Incessant dash upon the shore:
Ye Seas and Floods, with voice of might
Resound His Name for ever.
Ye torrents from the mountain height,
Round your grey boulders dance and roar;
Ye billows on the ocean floor,
Your hands in jubilation smite:
Ye Seas and Floods, with voice of might
Resound His Name for evermore.
Round your grey boulders dance and roar;
Ye billows on the ocean floor,
Your hands in jubilation smite:
Ye Seas and Floods, with voice of might
Resound His Name for evermore.
O ye Whales, and all that move in the waters, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye silent Tenants of the deep,
From your dim haunts His praise uplift;
Whether ye glance with motion swift,
Or through the weedy tangle creep;
Whether through restless waves ye sweep,
Or with the lazy currents drift:
Ye silent Tenants of the deep,
From your dim haunts His praise uplift
From your dim haunts His praise uplift;
Whether ye glance with motion swift,
Or through the weedy tangle creep;
Whether through restless waves ye sweep,
Or with the lazy currents drift:
Ye silent Tenants of the deep,
From your dim haunts His praise uplift
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Your ordered paths He bids you keep,
Your watery pleasures are His gift;
He shows you, through a cloudy rift,
The oozy fields which ye may reap:
Ye silent Tenants of the deep,
From your dim haunts His praise uplift.
Your watery pleasures are His gift;
He shows you, through a cloudy rift,
The oozy fields which ye may reap:
Ye silent Tenants of the deep,
From your dim haunts His praise uplift.
O all ye Fowls of the air, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
O all ye Birds of various wing,
Bless ye the Lord in joyful lays;
Whether in some dim forest-maze,
Unseen yourselves, your voices ring:
Or up through azure heights ye spring,
Bearing aloft melodious praise:
O all ye Birds of various wing,
Bless ye the Lord in joyful lays.
Bless ye the Lord in joyful lays;
Whether in some dim forest-maze,
Unseen yourselves, your voices ring:
Or up through azure heights ye spring,
Bearing aloft melodious praise:
O all ye Birds of various wing,
Bless ye the Lord in joyful lays.
Whether in garden nooks ye sing,
Or warble by the public ways;
If but a simple trill ye raise,
Or but a cheery chirp ye bring:
O all ye Birds of various wing,
Bless ye the Lord in joyful lays.
Or warble by the public ways;
If but a simple trill ye raise,
Or but a cheery chirp ye bring:
O all ye Birds of various wing,
Bless ye the Lord in joyful lays.
O all ye Beasts and Cattle, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye Beasts and Cattle, magnify
Your Lord and Master evermore;
Lions, that in the desert roar,
Proclaim His awful majesty—
And creatures fierce that ambushed lie
In woods, or haunt the reedy shore:
Ye Beasts and Cattle, magnify
Your Lord and Master evermore.
Your Lord and Master evermore;
Lions, that in the desert roar,
Proclaim His awful majesty—
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In woods, or haunt the reedy shore:
Ye Beasts and Cattle, magnify
Your Lord and Master evermore.
Ye flocks that range the mountains high,
Ye peaceful herds that wander o'er
A thousand hills, His Name adore—
Lowing and bleating to the sky:
Ye Beasts and Cattle, magnify
Your Lord and Master evermore.
Ye peaceful herds that wander o'er
A thousand hills, His Name adore—
Lowing and bleating to the sky:
Ye Beasts and Cattle, magnify
Your Lord and Master evermore.
O ye Children of Men, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye Sons of Men, your glory wake,
To God your jubilate raise:
He calls on you to lead the lays
Which from His happy creatures break;
Their varied notes and cries to take
And blend into articulate praise:
Ye Sons of Men, your glory wake,
To God your jubilate raise.
To God your jubilate raise:
He calls on you to lead the lays
Which from His happy creatures break;
Their varied notes and cries to take
And blend into articulate praise:
Ye Sons of Men, your glory wake,
To God your jubilate raise.
Wake heart and voice for His dear sake,
The Son of Man, Who walked earth's ways;
With praise of Him crown all your days,
Of Him your sweetest music make:
Ye Sons of Men, your glory wake,
To God your jubilate raise.
The Son of Man, Who walked earth's ways;
With praise of Him crown all your days,
Of Him your sweetest music make:
Ye Sons of Men, your glory wake,
To God your jubilate raise.
136
O let Israel bless the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Let Israel praise Him with a song,
And laud His love and lift His fame;
For them He came in cloud and flame
To teach the bounds of right and wrong;
Bore them on eagles' wings along,
And made a people for His Name:
Let Israel praise Him with a song,
And laud His love and lift His fame.
And laud His love and lift His fame;
For them He came in cloud and flame
To teach the bounds of right and wrong;
Bore them on eagles' wings along,
And made a people for His Name:
Let Israel praise Him with a song,
And laud His love and lift His fame.
He deigned to dwell His saints among;
For them a Virgin's Child He came;
Blameless He took away their blame,
Becoming weak to make them strong:
Let Israel praise Him with a song,
And laud His love and lift His fame.
For them a Virgin's Child He came;
Blameless He took away their blame,
Becoming weak to make them strong:
Let Israel praise Him with a song,
And laud His love and lift His fame.
O ye Priests of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye Priests of God, your incense bring,
The fragrant offering of your praise;
Give thanks with morning's cheerful rays,
At tranquil eve your censers swing;
Let grateful thoughts, like blossoms, spring
To beautify life's common ways:
Ye Priests of God, your incense bring
The fragrant offering of your praise.
The fragrant offering of your praise;
Give thanks with morning's cheerful rays,
At tranquil eve your censers swing;
Let grateful thoughts, like blossoms, spring
To beautify life's common ways:
Ye Priests of God, your incense bring
The fragrant offering of your praise.
And, as ye move, sweet bells shall ring,
Spontaneous as the wild birds' lays;
And yours shall be harmonious days
In happy service of the King:
Ye Priests of God, your incense bring,
The fragrant offering of your praise.
Spontaneous as the wild birds' lays;
And yours shall be harmonious days
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Ye Priests of God, your incense bring,
The fragrant offering of your praise.
O ye Servants of the Lord, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye faithful Servants of the Lord,
Be works of love your harp of praise;
Let arduous toils of loyal days
The music which He asks, afford;
Let every hour its fitting chord
Of action high conspire to raise:
Ye faithful Servants of the Lord,
Be works of love your harp of praise.
Be works of love your harp of praise;
Let arduous toils of loyal days
The music which He asks, afford;
Let every hour its fitting chord
Of action high conspire to raise:
Ye faithful Servants of the Lord,
Be works of love your harp of praise.
Let Him with duty be adored,
Who toiled along earth's painful ways—
With labours not with empty lays,
Who His sweet Life for us outpoured:
Ye faithful Servants of the Lord,
Be works of love your harp of praise.
Who toiled along earth's painful ways—
With labours not with empty lays,
Who His sweet Life for us outpoured:
Ye faithful Servants of the Lord,
Be works of love your harp of praise.
O ye Spirits and Souls of the Righteous, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye Righteous Souls in Paradise,
Be ceaseless praise your blissful dower;
No sorrows cloud your tranquil hour,
No sins entangle or surprise;
No ruffling fears or doubts arise,
No pain disturbs, no dangers lower:
Ye Righteous Souls in Paradise,
Be ceaseless praise your blissful dower.
Be ceaseless praise your blissful dower;
No sorrows cloud your tranquil hour,
No sins entangle or surprise;
No ruffling fears or doubts arise,
No pain disturbs, no dangers lower:
Ye Righteous Souls in Paradise,
Be ceaseless praise your blissful dower.
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What speechless glories meet your eyes,
What joys surround you, and embower;
How ye expand, like some fair flower,
Beneath those soft celestial skies:
Ye Righteous Souls in Paradise,
Be ceaseless praise your blissful dower.
What joys surround you, and embower;
How ye expand, like some fair flower,
Beneath those soft celestial skies:
Ye Righteous Souls in Paradise,
Be ceaseless praise your blissful dower.
O ye holy and humble Men of heart, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
Ye holy, humble Men of heart,
Praise God for your peculiar joys;—
Faith, which no dust of doubt alloys,
And hopes, that singing, upward dart;
A sweet content that dwells apart,
And perfect peace which never cloys:
Ye holy, humble Men of heart,
Praise God for your peculiar joys.
Praise God for your peculiar joys;—
Faith, which no dust of doubt alloys,
And hopes, that singing, upward dart;
A sweet content that dwells apart,
And perfect peace which never cloys:
Ye holy, humble Men of heart,
Praise God for your peculiar joys.
Your lives are void of guile or art;
Your ears are stopped to the vain noise
Of Siren-songs and tinkling toys;
No fears can make you swerve or start:
Ye holy, humble Men of heart,
Praise God for your peculiar joys.
Your ears are stopped to the vain noise
Of Siren-songs and tinkling toys;
No fears can make you swerve or start:
Ye holy, humble Men of heart,
Praise God for your peculiar joys.
O Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, bless ye the Lord; praise Him and magnify Him for ever.
“The Lord be praised,” be thine to sing,
O Muse of mine, with Nature's choir;
To thee He gave the tuneful lyre,
For Him be struck each trembling string:
From morn to morn, as on lark's wing,
Ascend thy music, high and higher:
“The Lord be praised,” be thine to sing,
O Muse of mine, with Nature's choir.
O Muse of mine, with Nature's choir;
To thee He gave the tuneful lyre,
For Him be struck each trembling string:
139
Ascend thy music, high and higher:
“The Lord be praised,” be thine to sing,
O Muse of mine, with Nature's choir.
Nay, to a cherub's pinion cling,
And worship with a seraph's fire;
And, with the blessèd saints, aspire
To smite thy harp before the King:
“The Lord be praised,” be thine to sing,
O Muse of mine, with Nature's choir!
And worship with a seraph's fire;
And, with the blessèd saints, aspire
To smite thy harp before the King:
“The Lord be praised,” be thine to sing,
O Muse of mine, with Nature's choir!
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