The Day Thou Gavest

The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at Thy behest;

To Thee our morning hymns ascended,
Thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank Thee that Thy church, unsleeping
While earth rolls onward into light,

Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And never rests by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island
The dawn leads on another day,

The voice of prayer is never silent,
Nor dies the strain of praise away.

The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
Thy saints beneath the western skies,

And hour by hour, as day is breaking,
Fresh hymns of thankful praise arise.

So be it, Lord! Thy throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away:

Thy kingdom stands and grows forever,
Till all Thy creatures own Thy sway.