Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs ‎#58

58. Morning Blessing

The golden morning,
Joy her adorning,
With splendour near us
Draweth, to cheer us
With her heart-refreshing and lovely light.
My head and members
Lay wrapt all in slumbers,
But now awaking,
And sleep from me shaking,
Heaven’s bless’d sunshine doth gladden my sight.

Mine eye beholdeth
What God upholdeth,
Made for His glory,
To tell the story
To us of His power and might so great,
And where the Father
The faithful shall gather
In peace, whenever
Earth’s lies they shall sever
And leave this mortal and perishing state.

Come ye with singing,
To God be bringing
Goods and each blessing—
All we’re possessing—
All be to God as an offering brought.
Hearts with love glowing,
With praises o’erflowing,
Thanksgiving voices,
In these God rejoices,
All other off’rings without them are nought.

To morn and even
His thoughts are given,
Increase He giveth,
Sorrow relieveth,
These are the works that He doeth alone.
When we are sleeping
Watch is He aye keeping,
When we’re awaking
Care still of us taking,
He makes the light of His grace to shine down.

My thoughts I’ve raisèd
To Thee who’rt praisèd
For aye in Heaven!
Success be given,
May all my endeavours unhinder’d be!
From ev’ry evil
And work of the devil,
All malice ever,
Oh do Thou deliver!
In all Thy precepts establish Thou me!

May’t pleasure give me,
May no pain grieve me
To see flow over
The cup my brother
Or neighbour hath, with Thy blessings so free.
Covetous burning
And unchristian yearning
For ill possessions,
Blot out such transgressions,
Cast them, O Father! all into the sea!

The life we’re living
What is it giving?
Ere any thinketh
To ground it sinketh,
Soon as the breath of the grave on it blow.
All things together
Dread ruin must shiver,
The earth and heaven
They must perish even,
Wrapt in the flames that shall ardently glow!

All—all decayeth,
But God still stayeth,
His thoughts they waver
A moment never,
His word and will both eternally ’dure.
His grace and favour
Uninjur’d are ever,
Deadly wounds healing,
The heart with peace filling,
Health here and yonder to us they ensure.

My God for ever
Do Thou deliver!
Shield me, and cover
My debts all over,
In grace, Thine eyes from my sins turn away.
Govern and guide me,
Be ever beside me,
As it is pleasing
To Thee! am I placing
All in Thy hand and disposal for aye.

Wilt Thou give ever
To me whatever
My life is needing?
May I be heeding
Ever the faithful word spoken by Thee.
God is the highest,
The greatest, the nighest,
Gracious is ever,
Is changeable never,
Of all our treasures the noblest is He.

Wilt Thou then grieve me,
Gall to drink give me?
Must I be passing
Through cares harassing?
Do then as seemeth it good unto Thee.
Whate’er supporteth,
Is useful or hurteth,
Thou knowest ever,
And chastenest never
Too much, in case we o’erburden’d should be.

Trial God sendeth,
Speedily endeth
The storms of ocean,
The wind’s commotion
Lightens the sunshine so gladsome and bright.
Fulness of pleasure,
And glorious leisure,
Will then be given
To me in yon Heaven
Whither my thoughts aye to turn take delight.

Text Information

• First Line: The golden morning
• Title: Morning Blessing
• German Title: Die gueldne Sonne
• Author: Paul Gerhardt
• Translator: John Kelly (1867)
• Meter: 5,5,5,5,10,5,5,5,5,10
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1867

Tune Information

(No tune information)