1 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.

2 We thank thee that thy Church unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
thro' all the world her watch is keeping,
and rests not now by day or night.

3 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.

4 The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
your children 'neath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are making
thy wondrous doings heard on high.

5 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.