O God, the Joy of Heav’n Above

O God

the joy of Heav’n ab­ove

Thou didst not need Thy crea­tures’ love

When from Thy sec­ret place of rest

Thy Word the earth’s foun­da­tions blest.

Thou spak­est: worlds be­gan to be;

They bow be­fore Thy ma­jes­ty;

And all to their cre­at­or raise

A won­drous har­mo­ny of praise.

But ere

O Lord

this love­ly earth

From Thy cre­at­ive will had birth

Thou in Thy coun­sels didst un­fold

Another world of fair­er mold.

That realm shall our Re­deem­er frame

And build up­on His migh­ty name;

His hand the word of pow­er shall sow

That all the earth His truth may know.

When time it­self has passed away

His Church

se­cure in Heav’n for aye

Shall share His table and His throne

And God the Fa­ther reign alone.

O Fa­ther

Son

and Spir­it blest

One God in Heav’n and earth con­fessed

Preserve

di­rect

and fill with love

Thy realm on earth

Thy realm ab­ove.