Scripture Verse

Where wast thou when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if thou hast understanding. Who hath laid the measures thereof, if thou knowest? Or who hath stretched the line upon it? Whereupon are the foundations thereof fastened? Or who laid the cornerstone thereof? Job 38:4–6

Introduction

portrait
Henry T. Smart (1813–1879)

Words: Su­san H. Pe­ter­son, 1998 (pub­lic do­main).

Music: Lan­ca­shire Hen­ry T. Smart, 1836 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Susan H. Peterson (1950–2004)

Lyrics

You laid the earth’s foun­da­tion;
Its lines to You are known.
You know what holds its foot­ings;
You laid its cor­ner­stone.
You gave the sea its boun­da­ries and said,
You proud waves, halt!
How ma­ny are Your works, Lord!
In wis­dom You made all.

You give com­mand each morn­ing;
You show the dawn its place.
You jour­ney to the sea springs;
The gates of death You’ve faced.
You com­pre­hend earth’s vast ex­panse,
Where light and dark­ness dwell.
How ma­ny are Your works, Lord!
In wis­dom You ex­cel.

Snow’s store­hous­es You’ve en­tered;
You know the light­ning’s home,
The place where east winds come from,
The path for ev­ery storm.
You drench the de­sert waste­land
And make it sprout with grass.
How ma­ny are Your works, Lord!
Your wisdom, O how vast!

You’re Fa­ther to each rain­drop;
You give birth to the frost.
You lead the con­stel­la­tions;
Not one of them is lost.
You know the laws of sun and stars;
O’er earth You set Your reign.
How ma­ny are Your works, Lord!
Your wis­dom is made plain.

The clouds ob­ey Your bid­ding;
Their wa­ter jars You spill.
You give man’s heart its wis­dom,
His mind with know­ledge fill.
You hunt prey for the li­on­ess,
Provide the ra­vens’ food.
How ma­ny are Your works, Lord,
So wise and great and good!