Hymns to the Living God ‎#342

342. The Duteous Day Now Closeth

1 The duteous day now closeth,
each flow'r and tree reposeth,
shade creeps o’er wild and wood;
let us, as night is falling,
on God our Maker calling,
give thanks to Him, the Giver good.

2 Now all the heav'nly splendor
breaks forth in starlight tender
from myriad worlds unknown;
and man, the marvel seeing,
forgets his selfish being,
for joy of beauty not his own.

3 His care he drowneth yonder,
lost in th'abyss of wonder;
to heav'n his soul doth steal;
this life he disesteemeth,
the day it is that dreameth,
that doth from truth his vision seal.

4 Awhile his mortal blindness
may miss God’s loving-kindness
and grope in faithless strife;
but when life’s day is over
shall death’s fair night discover
the fields of everlasting life.

Text Information

• First Line: The duteous day now closeth
• Title: The Duteous Day Now Closeth
• Author: Paul Gerhardt (1648)
• Translator: Robert S. Bridges (1899)
• Meter: 7.7.6.7.7.8
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2017
• Topic: Benediction

Tune Information

• Name: INNSBRUCK
• Composer: Heinrich Isaak (1488)
• Harmonizer: Johann Sebastian Bach, 18th cent.
• Meter: 7.7.6.7.7.8
• Key: G Major