The Spir­it moved up­on the waves
That dark­ly rolled, a shore­less sea;
He spake the word, and light broke forth,
A glo­ri­ous, bright im­men­si­ty.

At His com­mand, the mount­ains heaved
Their roc­ky pin­na­cles on high,
Island and con­ti­nent dis­played
Their de­sert gran­deur to the sky.

The voice of God was heard again,
And love­ly flow­ers and grace­ful trees
Appeared on ev­ery vale and plain,
And per­fumes float­ed on the breeze.

The word went forth, and vast and high
The hea­ven­ly orbs gave out their light,
O’er all the earth and sea and sky,
The rul­ers of the day and night.

Glory to God! the an­gels sang,
With harps of gold, and tongues of flame:
And all the hea­ven­ly arch­es rang
Re-echoing with the aw­ful theme.