FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH

FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH

              For the beauty of the earth,
    for the glory of the skies,
    for the love which from our birth
    over and around us lies;
    Lord of all, to thee we raise
    this our hymn of grateful praise.

    For the beauty of each hour
    of the day and of the night,
    hill and vale, and tree and flower,
    sun and moon, and stars of light;
    Lord of all, to thee we raise
    this our hymn of grateful praise.
   
              For the joy of ear and eye,
    for the heart and mind's delight,
    for the mystic harmony,
    linking sense to sound and sight;
    Lord of all, to thee we raise
    this our hymn of grateful praise.

    For the joy of human love,
    brother, sister, parent, child,
    friends on earth and friends above,
    for all gentle thoughts and mild;
    Lord of all, to thee we raise
    this our hymn of grateful praise.

    For thy church, that evermore
    lifteth holy hands above,
    offering up on every shore
    her pure sacrifice of love;
    Lord of all, to thee we raise
    this our hymn of grateful praise.

    For thyself, best Gift Divine,
    to the world so freely given,
    for that great, great love of thine,
    peace on earth, and joy in heaven: 
    Lord of all, to thee we raise
    this our hymn of grateful praise.

~Folliott S. Pierpoint