“When Morning Gilds the Skies” is the hymn we started last week’s worship service.
This is a translated hymn, and there are different versions that have different numbers of verses and in different orders. Below is the one we sang. I think “Friendship with God Hymnal” that we use picked good verses and order as it goes from (one) day, (two) night, (three) day again, (four) in sadness, (five) in heaven, six) all nature, and (seven) self. Each of these verses is twice punctuated with “May Jesus Christ be praised!”
When Morning Gilds the Skies
text translated by Edward Caswell & music by Joseph Barnby
- When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer,
To Jesus I repair;
May Jesus Christ be praised! - When sleep her balm denies,
My silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest,
With this I shield my breast:
May Jesus Christ be praised! - The night becomes as day
When from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The pow’rs of darkness fear
When this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised! - Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised! - In Heav’n’s eternal bliss
The loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea, and sky
From depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised! - Sing, sun and stars of space,
Sing, all that see His face;
May Jesus Christ be praised!
God’s whole creation o’er,
Today and evermore,
May Jesus Christ be praised! - Be this, while life is mine,
My song of love divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song
Through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!