The Hymnal ‎#40

40. O Light, Whose beams illumine all

O Light, whose beams illumine all
From twilight dawn to perfect day,
Shine thou before the shadows fall,
That lead our wandering feet astray;
At morn and eve thy radiance pour,
That youth may love and age adore.

O Way, through whom our souls draw near
To yon eternal home of peace,
Where perfect love shall cast out fear,
And earth's vain toil and wandering cease;
In strength or weakness may we see
Our heavenward path, O Lord, through thee.

O Truth, before whose shrine we bow,
Thou priceless pearl for all who seek,
To thee our earliest strength we vow;
Thy love will bless the pure and meek;
When dreams or mists beguile our sight,
Turn thou our darkness into light.

O Life, the well that ever flows
To slake the thirst of those that faint,
Thy power to bless, what seraph knows?
Thy joy supreme, what words can paint?
In earth's last hour of fleeting breath
Be thou our conqueror over death.

O Light, O Way, O Truth, O Life,
O Jesus, born mankind to save,
Give thou thy peace in deadliest strife;
Shed thou thy calm on stormiest wave;
Be thou our hope, our joy, our dread,
Lord of the living and the dead.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: O Light, Whose beams illumine all
• Author: Edward H. Plumptre (1864)
• Meter: Six 8s
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1916
• Topic: Through the Week

Tune Information

• Name: ST. MATTHIAS
• Composer: William H. Monk (1861)
• Meter: Six 8s
• Incipit: 32143 23532 12534
• Key: F Major