O God, the Rock of Ages

O God

the rock of ag­es

Who ev­er­more hast been

What time the tem­pest rag­es

Our dwell­ing place se­rene:

Before Thy first cre­ations

O Lord

the same as now

To end­less ge­ne­ra­tions

The ev­er­last­ing Thou.

Our years are like the sha­dows

On sun­ny hills that lie

Or grass­es in the mea­dows

That bloss­om but to die;

A sleep

a dream

a sto­ry

By strang­ers quick­ly told

An un­re­main­ing glo­ry

Of things that soon are old.

O Thou

who dost not slum­ber

Whose light grows nev­er pale

Teach us aright to num­ber

Our years be­fore they fail;

On us Thy mer­cy light­en

On us Thy good­ness rest

And let Thy Spir­it bright­en

The hearts Thy­self hast blessed.

Lord

crown our faith’s en­dea­vor

With beau­ty and with grace

Till

clothed in light for­ev­er

We see Thee face to face:

A joy no lang­uage mea­sures

A fount­ain brim­ming o’er

An end­less flow of plea­sures

An ocean with­out shore.