The Hymnal 1982 ‎#46

46. The duteous day now closeth

1 The duteous day now closeth,
each flower and tree reposeth,
shade creeps o'er wild and wood:
let us, as night is falling,
on God our Maker calling,
give thanks to him, the Giver good.

2 Now all the heavenly splendor
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 lovingkindness
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 closeth
• Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676
• Translator: Robert Seymour Bridges, 1844-1930
• Meter: 776. 778
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1985
• Topic: Compline
• Source: Other translators also

Tune Information

• Name: O WELT, ICH MUSS DICH LASSEN
• Composer (melody, attr.): Heinrich Isaac, 1450?-1517
• Harmonizer: Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750
• Meter: 776. 778
• Key: F Major