The day you gave us, Lord, is ended

The day you gave us, Lord, is ended,
the darkness falls at your behest;
to you our morning hymns ascended,
your praise shall sanctify our rest.

2. We thank you that your church, unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping
and rests not now by day or night.

3. Across each continent and island
as dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,
nor fades the sound of praise away.

4. The sun that bids us rest is waking
your church beneath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are making
your works of wonder heard on high.

5. So be it, Lord: your throne shall never,
like earth’s proud empires, pass away;
your kingdom stands, and grows for ever,
till all the world your rule obey.