O blest Creator of light, Who makest day with radiance bright

1 O blest Creator of the light,
Who makest day with radiance bright,
And o’er the forming world didst call
The light from chaos first of all;

2 Whose wisdom joined in meet array
The morn and eve, and named them Day:
Night comes with all its darkling fears;
Regard thy people’s prayers and tears:

3 Lest, sunk in sin and whelm'd with strife,
They lose the gift of endless life;
While, thinking but the thoughts of time,
They weave new chains of guilt and crime.

4 But grant them grace that they may strain
The heavenly gate and prize to gain:
Each harmful lure aside to cast,
And purge away each error past.

5 O Father, that we ask be done,
Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son,
Who with the Spirit and with thee
Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.


Source: The New English Hymnal #150a