Scripture Verse

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork. Psalm 19:1

Introduction

portrait
Thomas Moore (1779–1852)

Words: Tho­mas Moore, Sac­red Songs 1816, alt.

Music: Lou­van Vir­gil C. Tay­lor, Cho­ral An­thems (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: 1850) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Brentford Eng­lish tune, ar­ranged by Lo­well Ma­son, The Sac­red Harp or Ec­lec­tic Har­mo­ny (Cin­cin­na­ti Ohio: Tru­man & Smith, 1835), page 45 (🔊 pdf nwc)

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Tay­lor (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

The turf shall be my fragrant shrine,
My temple, Lord! that arch of Thine;
My censer’s breath the mountain airs,
And silent thoughts my only prayers.

My choir shall be the moonlight waves,
When murmuring homeward to their caves,
Or when the stillness of the sea,
E’en more than music, breathes of Thee!

I’ll seek, by day, some glade unknown,
All light and silence, like Thy throne;
And all the pale stars shall be at night,
The only eyes that watch my rite.

Thy Hea­ven, on which ’tis bliss to look,
Shall be my pure and shining book,
Where I shall read, in words of flame,
The glories of Thy wondrous name.

I’ll read Thy anger in the rack
That clouds awhile the day-beams track;
Thy mercy in the azure hue
Of sunny brightness breaking through!

There’s nothing bright, above, below,
From flowers that bloom to stars that glow,
But in its light my soul can see
Some feature of Thy deity.

There’s nothing dark, below, above,
But in its gloom I trace Thy love,
And meekly wait that moment, when
Thy touch shall turn all bright again!