My God, I thank Thee, who hast made
The earth so bright,
So full of splen­dor and of joy,
Beauty and light;
So many glo­ri­ous things are here,
Noble and right.

I thank Thee, too, that Thou hast made
Joy to abound;
So many gen­tle thoughts and deeds
Circling us round,
That in the dark­est spot of earth
Some love is found.

I thank Thee more that all our joy
Is touched with pain,
That sha­dows fall on bright­est hours,
That thorns re­main;
So that earth’s bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

For thou who know­est, Lord, how soon
Our weak heart clings,
Hast giv­en us joys, ten­der and true,
Yet all with wings;
So that we see gleam­ing on high
Diviner things.

I thank Thee, Lord, that Thou hast kept
The best in store;
We have enough, yet not too much
To long for more:
A yearn­ing for a deep­er peace
Not known be­fore.

I thank Thee, Lord, that here our souls
Though amp­ly blessed,
Can ne­ver find, al­though they seek
A per­fect rest;
Nor ev­er shall, un­til they lean
On Je­sus’ breast.