AN AUTUMN HYMN^[47][2]

Valdimar Briem (1848-1930)
7.6.7.6 D
How glorious is God's greatness!
How marvellous God's might!
To this the world bears witness
In wonders day and night;
In form of flower and snowflake,
In morn's resplendent birth,
In afterglow at even,
In sky and sea and earth!
Each tiny floweret whispers
The great Life-giver's name;
The mighty mountain masses
His majesty proclaim;
The hollow vales are hymning
God's shelter for His own;
The snow-capped peaks are pointing
To God's almighty throne.
The ocean's vast abysses
In one grand psalm record
The deep mysterious counsels
And mercy of the Lord;
The ice-cold waves of winter
Are thundering on the strand,

"E'en grief's chill stream is guided

By God's all-gracious hand."
The starry hosts are singing
Through all the light-strewn sky,
Of God's eternal Temple
And Palace-courts on high.
When, in these outer chambers,
Such glory gilds the gloom,
What the transcendent brightness
Of God's own Presence Room!
Kaspar Johannes Boye (1791-1853)
Valdimar Briem (1848-1930)
8.6.8.6
Full soon will fall the winter rain,
Soon fade the green hill-side;
With all thy glory, fare thee well,
Thou radiant summer-tide.
Full soon will wail the winter wind,
Soon fail the flowers that blow;
Let autumn blight the buds of earth,
The flower of Hope doth grow!
What though the sunlight wane? ne'er wanes
The grace of Christ the Lord;
Amid the gathering gloom shines on
God's everlasting Word.
Though leaf may wither, floweret fade,
Though tiny grass blade pale;
Our hearts can trust a surer truth--
God's love shall never fail.
Though winter chill each struggling herb,
My gladness ne'er can cease;
From Bethlehem calls a voice, "To you
Is born the Prince of Peace."
Upon my fairest trees of hope
Lies cold a robe of snow;
But from the Tree where Jesus died
The Living Waters flow.
Though fade the grass on hill and dale,
Though ice bind stream and fell;
My faith in Him shall never fail,
Who burst the bonds of Hell.
Good hope of everlasting spring
His Church the Saviour gave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! The Life Himself
Is risen from the grave!

^[48][2]The Icelandic of Bishop Valdimar Briem is based on a Danish hymn by Kaspar Johannes Boye.