One of my favorite evening hymns

By Moriah on January 21st, 2008

The day you gave us, Lord, is ended,
The darkness falls at your behest;
To you our morning hymns ascended,
Your praise shall hallow now our rest.

We thank you that your church, unsleeping
While earth rolls onward into light,
Through all the world her watch is keeping,
And rests not now by day or night.

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.

The sun, that bids us rest, is waking
Our brethren ‘neath the western sky,
And hour by hour fresh lips are making
Your wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord; your throne shall never,
Like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
But stand, and rule, and grow forever,
Till all your creatures own your sway.

- John Ellerton, 1870