The New English Hymnal ‎#253

253. 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 splendour
Breaks forth in starlight tender
From myriad worlds unknown;
And man, the marvel seeing,
Forgets his selfish being,
For joy of beauty not his own.

3 His care he drowneth yonder,
Lost in the abyss of wonder;
To heaven his soul doth steal:
This life he disesteemeth,
The day it is that dreameth,
That doth from truth his vision seal.

4 Awhile his mortal blindness
May miss God’s loving kindness,
And grope in faithless strife:
But 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, 1607-76
• Translator: Robert Bridges, 1844-1930
• Meter: 776 778
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1986
• Topic: Times and Seasons: Evening

Tune Information

• Name: INNSBRUCK
• Transcriber: Heinrich Isaac
• Harmonizer: J. S. Bach, 1685-1750
• Meter: 776 778
• Key: G Major