God's Book of Nature

This wondrous world, my God, a book I deem

Translator: Valdimar Briem; Translator: Charles Venn Pilcher
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

This wondrous world, my God, a book I deem,
Wherein the Author's heavenly glories shine:
The petals of the wayside flowers meseem
Its pages, pencilled o'er by hand divine.

The sun that soars above the eastern deep
Toward the realms celestial beckoneth me;
The glowing orb, which westering sinks to sleep,
Tells of eternal rest and peace with Thee.

Within my breast fair spring's life-laden wind
Kindles new hope in Thine abounding grace;
The gathering gloom of autumn bids me find
Within Thy sheltering arms my hiding place.

The countless stars which gleam athwart the sky,
Speak of Thine eyes which sleep not day nor night;
While at my feet the earth-born flowers reply,
"We live our lowly lives within God's sight."

Grant me, dear Lord, to scan Thy works, until
My heart their soothing ministry doth own.
What though Thy might the flesh with awe instil?
The spirit yearns to Thine all-gracious throne.

Translator: Valdimar Briem

Born: Feb­ru­a­ry 1, 1848, Grund, Ice­land. Died: May 3, 1930, Stó­ri-Nú­pur, Ice­land. Briem at­tend­ed the The­o­lo­gic­al Sem­in­ary in Reyk­ja­vik, was or­dained in 1873, and in 1880 be­came pas­tor of the Stó­ri-Nú­pur par­ish, where he served for three de­cades. In 1909, he be­came vice-bi­shop of Skál­holt. The 1886 Ice­lan­dic hym­nal has 102 orig­in­al hymns by Briem, and 39 of his trans­la­tions. Lyrics: Hve dryalegur er Drott­inn (How Mar­vel­ous God’s Great­ness) Lord, Let Thy Spir­it © The Cyber Hymnal™ (www.hymntime.com/tch) Go to person page >

Translator: Charles Venn Pilcher

Pilcher, Charles Venn. (Oxford, June 4, 1879--July 4, 1961, Sydney, Australia). Anglican. Grandnephew of Charlotte Elliott. Hertford College, Oxford, B.A., 1902; M.A., 1905; B.D., 1909; D.D., 1921. Curacies at Birmingham, 1903-1905; St. James, Toronto, 1910-1916; taught theology at Auckland Castle, England, 1905-1906, and at Wycliffe College, Toronto, 1916-1936. Elected coadjutor bishop of Sydney, Australia, at the instance of a former Wycliffe colleague, Archbishop Mowll. He composed hymn tunes and other music, and long played bass clarinet in the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. Also, he translated and published much devotional material from Iceland, notably Iceland Christian Classics (1950). These side interests, like his hymn writing, merely… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: This wondrous world, my God, a book I deem
Title: God's Book of Nature
Translator: Valdimar Briem
Translator: Charles Venn Pilcher
Meter: 10.10.10.10
Language: English

Instances

Instances (1 - 1 of 1)
Text

Passion-Hymns of Iceland, The #17

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