Common Praise (1998) ‎#19

19. The Duteous Day Now Closes

1 The duteous day now closes,
each flower and tree reposes,
shade creeps o'er wild and wood:
let us, as night is falling,
on God our maker calling,
give thanks and bless the Giver good.

2 Now all the heavenly splendour
breaks forth in starlight tender
from myriad worlds unknown;
and we, this marvel seeing,
forget our selfish being
for joy of beauty not our own.

3 Though long our mortal blindness
has missed God's loving kindness
and plunged us into strife;
yet when life's day is over,
shall death's fair night discover
the fields of everlasting life.

Text Information

• First Line: The duteous day now closes
• Title: The Duteous Day Now Closes
• Author: Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)
• Translator: Robert Seymour Bridges (1844-1930) (alt.)
• Meter: 776 778
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1998
• Scripture:
  Genesis 1:1-2:4
  ;
  Psalm 139
• Topic: Evening; Creation; O Gracious Light
• Copyright: Tr. © Oxford University Press

Tune Information

• Name: INNSBRUCK
• Adapter: Heinrich Isaac, 1450?-1517
• Adapter and Harmonizer: Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750
• Meter: 776 778
• Key: G Major
• Source: German, (15th cent.)