| THOU, so far, we grope to grasp thee— | |
| Thou, so near, we cannot clasp thee— | |
| Thou, so wise, our prayers grow heedless— | |
| Thou, so loving, they are needless! | |
| In each human soul thou shinest, | 5 |
| Human-best is thy divinest. | |
| In each deed of love thou warmest; | |
| Evil into good transformest. | |
| Soul of all, and moving centre | |
| Of each moment’s life we enter. | 10 |
| Breath of breathing—light of gladness— | |
| Infinite antidote of sadness;— | |
| All-preserving ether flowing | |
| Through the worlds, yet past our knowing. | |
| Never past our trust and loving, | 15 |
| Nor from thine our life removing. | |
| Still creating, still inspiring, | |
| Never of thy creatures tiring; | |
| Artist of thy solar spaces; | |
| And thy humble human faces; | 20 |
| Mighty glooms and splendours voicing; | |
| In thy plastic work rejoicing; | |
| Through benignant law connecting | |
| Best with best—and all perfecting, | |
| Though all human races claim thee, | 25 |
| Thought and language fail to name thee, | |
| Mortal lips be dumb before thee, | |
| Silence only may adore thee! | |
