I Praised the Earth

I praised the earth, in beauty seen
With garlands gay of various green;

I praised the earth, in beauty seen
With garlands gay of various green;

I praised the sea, whose ample field
Shone glorious as a silver shield;

And earth and ocean seem’d to say,
“Our beauties are but for a day!”

I praised the sun, whose chariot roll’d
On wheels of amber and of gold;

I praised the moon, whose softer eye
Gleam’d sweetly through the summer sky!

And moon and sun in answer said,
“Our days of light are numbered!”

O God! O Good beyond compare!
If thus Thy meaner works are fair!

If thus Thy bounties gild the span
Of ruin’d earth and sinful man,

How glorious must the mansion be
Where Thy redeem’d shall dwell with Thee!

Fourth Sunday after Advent

Reginald Heber