O Thou, the first, the greatest friendOf all the human race!Whose strong right hand has ever beenTheir stay and dwelling place!4
Before the mountains heav’d their headsBeneath Thy forming hand,Before this ponderous globe itselfArose at Thy command;8
That Pow’r which rais’d and still upholdsThis universal frame,From countless, unbeginning timeWas ever still the same.12
Those mighty periods of yearsWhich seem to us so vast,Appear no more before Thy sightThan yesterday that’s past.16
Thou giv’st the word: Thy creature, man,Is to existence brought;Again Thou say’st, “Ye sons of men,Return ye into nought!”20
Thou layest them, with all their cares,In everlasting sleep;As with a flood Thou tak’st them offWith overwhelming sweep.24
They flourish like the morning flow’r,In beauty’s pride array’d;But long ere night cut down it liesAll wither’d and decay’d.28