The spacious firmament on high

Full Text

1 The spacious firmament on high,
with all the blue ethereal sky,
and spangled heavens, a shining frame,
their great Original proclaim.
The unwearied sun from day to day
does his Creator's power display;
and publishes to every land
the work of an almighty hand.

2 Soon as the evening shades prevail,
the moon takes up the wondrous tale,
and nightly to the listening earth
repeats the story of her birth;
while all the stars that round her burn,
and all the planets, in their turn,
confirm the tidings, as they roll
and spread the truth from pole to pole.

3 What though in solemn silence all
move round the dark terrestrial ball?
What though no real voice nor sound
amid their radiant orbs be found?
In reason's ear they all rejoice,
and utter forth a glorious voice;
for ever singing as they shine,
'The hand that made us is divine.'

Source: Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition #148

Author: Joseph Addison

Addison, Joseph, born at Milston, near Amesbury, Wiltshire, May 1, 1672, was the son of the Rev. Lancelot Addison, sometime Dean of Lichfield, and author of Devotional Poems, &c, 1699. Addison was educated at the Charterhouse, and at Magdalen College, Oxford, graduating B.A. 1691 and M.A. 1693. Although intended for the Church, he gave himself to the study of law and politics, and soon attained, through powerful influence, to some important posts. He was successively a Commissioner of Appeals, an Under Secretary of State, Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and Chief Secretary for Ireland. He married, in 1716, the Dowager Countess of Warwick, and died at Holland House, Kensington, June 17, 1719. Addison is most widely known through… Go to person page >

Tune

CREATION (Haydn)

The tune CREATION is taken from the chorus “The Heavens Are Telling” from the well known oratorio The Creation (1798) by Franz Joseph Haydn (b. Rohrau, Austria, 1732; d. Vienna, Austria, 1809). Haydn's life was relatively uneventful, but his artistic legacy was truly astounding. He began his mus…

Go to tune page >


Timeline

Instances

Instances (14)TextImageAudioScore
A New Hymnal for Colleges and School #63
Church Hymnal, Fifth Edition #35
Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition #148Text
Common Praise #426Text
Complete Anglican Hymns Old & New #679
Hymnal 1982: according to the use of the Episcopal Church #409TextImage
Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard Edition #103
Hymns Old and New: New Anglican #493
Revival Hymns and Choruses #6
Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #96
Sing Praise to God: the Hymntunes of Iam Kellam #15
The Hymnal for Worship and Celebration #62
Trinity Hymnal #117Text
Worship in Song: A Friends Hymnal #20