When morning gilds the skies,
my heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Alike at work and prayer
to Jesus I repair:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When sleep her balm denies,
my silent spirit sighs:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
When evil thoughts molest,
with this I shield my breast:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
In heav’n’s eternal bliss
the loveliest strain is this:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
The pow’rs of darkness fear,
when this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth’s wide circle round
in joyful notes resound:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Let air and sea and sky,
from depth to height, reply:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Be this, while life is mine,
my canticle divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised.
Be this th’eternal song,
through all the ages on:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
German author unknown; Edward Caswall, translator, 1854; Edward Bridges additional translation, 1899.
Read Psalm 119:164-168
“When Morning Gilds the Sky” was new to me, but as I read it, I was struck by the commitment to praise Jesus, to find a reason to praise Jesus in every situation. All times of day. When my brain won’t settle down so I can sleep. When times are hard, and joy is hard to find. Praise Jesus. The writer finishes like many psalms do with a call for all creation to offer its praise the Creator. May we follow his call in the final stanza to make praising Jesus the center of our lives.