The Spirit Moved upon the Waves

The Spir­it moved up­on the waves

That dark­ly rolled

a shore­less sea;

He spake the word

and light broke forth

A glo­ri­ous

bright im­men­si­ty.

At His com­mand

the mount­ains heaved

Their roc­ky pin­na­cles on high

Island and con­ti­nent dis­played

Their de­sert gran­deur to the sky.

The voice of God was heard again

And love­ly flow­ers and grace­ful trees

Appeared on ev­ery vale and plain

And per­fumes float­ed on the breeze.

The word went forth

and vast and high

The heav­en­ly orbs gave out their light

O’er all the earth and sea and sky

The rul­ers of the day and night.

Glory to God! the an­gels sang

With harps of gold

and tongues of flame:

And all the heav­en­ly arch­es rang

Re-echoing with the aw­ful theme.