My God, I Love Thee for Thyself

My God

I love Thee for Thy­self

All crea­ture things above;

Thy glo­ri­ous works

Thy bless­èd gifts

I praise—but Thee I love.

My God

I seek Thee for Thy­self

Besides

I ask not aught;

If Thee

Thy­self

I do not find

All that I find is naught.

If Thou de­ni­est me Thy­self

Whate’er Thou giv­est me

Empty and void

I lang­uish still

And grieve un­ceas­ing­ly.

Give me to find

O gra­cious God

Thee

as my fi­nal end;

To Thee in con­stan­cy of love

Eternally to tend.