Go out, my heart, and seek delight
Author: Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)
Go out, my heart, and seek delight
in golden sunshine, summer bright;
rejoice in God's gifts daily.
See all of nature's bright display;
it clothes itself in fine array
for you and me so gaily
for you and me so gaily.
Lord, in your boundless love to us
you scatter joy and bounty thus
on us poor erring mortals.
What nobler glories will be given
hereafter in your shining heaven,
within the golden portals
within the golden portals!
What peerless joy when, on our sight,
Christ's garden beams with radiant light
and echoes with his praises;
when heaven's choir of seraphim
in one accordant voice and hymn
loud alleluias raises
loud alleluias raises!
O were I there! O that I now,
dear God, before your throne could bow
and bear my palms before you!
Then, like the angels, I would raise
a thousand anthems to your praise
and thankfully adore you
and thankfully adore you!
And yet, as long as I must bear
and body's yoke, I still will dare
to raise my voice in singing;
my homage nevermore shall end,
but here and everywhere ascend
to you, my praises bringing
to you, my praises bringing.
Now fill my soul with gifts of love,
with every blessing from above,
my life in you to nourish!
O may the sunshine of your grace
within my heart's each barren place
cause fruits of faith to flourish
cause fruits of faith to flourish!
For your good Spirit, Lord, make room
within my heart, that I may bloom-
a plant, that root has taken!
O let me in your garden be
an evergreen and fruitful tree
that ne'er will be forsaken
that ne'er will be forsaken!
Elect me then to paradise,
let soul and body, till I rise,
e'er thrive and wither never!
Thus, Lord, will I in you abide,
serve you alone - and none beside -
both here and there for ever
both here and there for ever!
An alternative version
Go out, my heart, and seek delight
in golden sunshine, summer bright;
rejoice in God's gifts daily.
See all of nature's bright display;
it clothes itself in fine array
for you and me so gaily
for you and me so gaily.
The trees with foliage green are blest,
the earth her dusty face has dressed
in herbage young and tender.
The desert rose and wattle fair
are clothed in raiment far more rare
than Solomon in splendour
than Solomon in splendour.
The wedge-tailed eagle in the sky
surveys the world with questing eye,
in lofty circles winging.
The roaring lark with trilling song
sets mountain gorge and billabong
and all the bushland ringing
and all the bushland ringing.
The strutting emu tends his chicks,
the bower-bird gathers twigs and sticks
to arch his glittering treasure.
The flute-call of the butcher-bird
from towering gum tree may be heard
to voice his morning pleasure
to voice his morning pleasure.
From rock-o'ershaded, rippling pool
the waters trickle, soft and cool,
among the ferns and creepers.
While dragon-flies dart here and there,
cicadas' droning fills the air
and stirs all insect-sleepers
and stirs all insect-sleepers.
The swarming, busy, tireless bees
in zig-zag flight on summer breeze
seek honey-dew so tender,
as scented shrubs and sugared flowers
lift up their petalled heads for hours
their sweetness to surrender
their sweetness to surrender.
The desert quandong, orange, plum,
the passion-fruit to ripeness come;
they urge our glad thanksgiving
to him who all these gifts bestows,
and from whom such abandance flows
to gratify our living
to gratify our living.
I cannot, mighty God, be still,
for all your mighty actions fill
my being with elation.
I too must sing when all things sing,
let praises to the Highest ring
which voice my adoration
which voice my adoration.
|
|
