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| GOD, whom shall I compare to Thee, | |
| When Thou to none canst likened be? | |
| Under what image shall I dare | |
| To picture Thee, when everywhere | |
| All Nature’s forms Thine impress bear? | 5 |
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| Greater, O Lord, Thy glories are | |
| Than all the heavenly chariots far. | |
| Whose mind can grasp Thy world’s design? | |
| Whose word can fitly Thee define? | |
| Whose tongue set forth Thy powers divine? | 10 |
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| Can heart approach, can eye behold | |
| Thee in Thy righteousness untold? | |
| Whom did’st Thou to Thy counsel call, | |
| When there was none to speak withal | |
| Since Thou was first and Lord of all? | 15 |
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| Thy world eternal witness bears | |
| That none its Maker’s glory shares. | |
| Thy wisdom is made manifest | |
| In all things formed by Thy behest, | |
| All with Thy seal’s clear mark impress’d. | 20 |
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| Before the pillars of the sky | |
| Were raised, before the mountains high | |
| Were wrought, ere hills and dales were known, | |
| Thou in Thy majesty alone | |
| Did’st sit, O God, upon Thy throne! | 25 |
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| Hearts, seeking Thee, from search refrain, | |
| And weary tongues their praise restrain. | |
| Thyself unbound by time and place, | |
| Thou dost pervade, support, embrace | |
| The world and all created space. | 30 |
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| The sages’ mind bewildered grow, | |
| The lightning speed of thought is slow. | |
| “Awful in praises” art Thy name; | |
| Thou fillest, strong in strength proclaimed, | |
| This universe Thy hand has framed. | 35 |
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| Deep, deep beyond all fathoming, | |
| Far, far beyond all measuring | |
| We can but seek Thy deeds alone; | |
| When bow Thy saints before Thy throne, | |
| Then is Thy faithfulness made known. | 40 |
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| Thy righteousness we can discern, | |
| Thy holy law proclaim and learn. | |
| Is not Thy presence near alway | |
| To them who penitently pray, | |
| But far from those who sinning stray? | 45 |
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| Pure souls behold Thee, and no need | |
| Have they of light; they hear and heed | |
| Thee with the mind’s keen ear, although | |
| The ear of flesh be dull and slow. | |
| Their voices answer to and fro. | 50 |
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| Thy holiness for ever they proclaim; | |
| The Lord of Hosts! thrice holy is His name! | |
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