The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.
Psalm 19:1
Words: Ernest E. Dugmore, 1884 & 1900.
Music: Chilton Foliat George C. Martin, 1897 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Almighty Father of all things that be,
Our life, our work we consecrate to Thee,
Whose heav’ns declare Thy glory from above,
Whose earth below is witness to Thy love.
For well we know this weary, soilèd earth
Is yet Thine own by right of its new birth,
Since that great cross upreared on Calvary,
Redeemed it from its fault and shame to Thee.
Thine still the changeful beauty of the hills,
The purple valleys flecked with silver rills,
The ocean glistening ’neath the golden rays;
They all are Thine, and ceaseless speak Thy praise.
Thou dost the strength to worker’s arm impart;
From Thee the skilled musician’s reasoned art;
The grace of poet’s pen or painter’s hand,
To teach the loveliness of sea and land.
Then grant us, Lord, in all things Thee to own,
To dwell within the shadow of Thy throne,
To speak and work, to think and live and move
Reflecting Thine own nature, which is love.
That so, by Christ redeemed from sin and shame,
And hallowed by Thy Spirit’s cleansing flame,
Ourselves, our work, and all our powers may be
A sacrifice acceptable to Thee.