September 12, 2014

All creatures of our God and King


“Heaven is under our feet as well as over our heads.” 
― Henry David Thoreau, Walden

All creatures of our God and King,
lift up your voice and with us sing:
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou burning sun with golden beam, 
thou silver moon with softer gleam,
Refrain:
Alleluia, alleluia,
Alleluia, O praise Him, alleluia!

Thou rushing wind that art so strong,
ye clouds that sail in heaven along,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou rising morn, in praise rejoice, 
ye light of evening, find a voice, (R)

Thou flowing water, pure and clear,
make music for thy Lord to hear,
Alleluia, alleluia!
Thou fire so masterful and bright,
that gives man both warmth and light, (R)

Dear mother earth, who day by day
unfoldest blessings on our way,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The flowers and fruits that in thee grow,
let them His glory also show: (R)


MUSIC
from Geistliche Kirchengesange, Cologne, Germany, 1623
TEXT
St. Francis of Assisi, 1182-1226; trans. by William H. Draper, 1855-1933