Latinised Hymns

Immortal, invisible, God only wise

Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, thy great name we praise.

Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, thou rulest in might;
Thy justice like mountains high soaring above
Thy clouds which are fountains of goodness and love.

To all life thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish; but nought changeth thee.

Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore thee, all veiling their sight;
All laud we would render: O help us to see
'Tis only the splendour of light hideth thee.

W.Chalmers Smith

Omniscium Numen, aeterne Deus,
quem abdidit lumen a luminibus,
laudamus habentem perenne decus
hostesque prementem et efferimus.

Numquam properando silens graderis,
nec plus tibi dando parumve regis.
Ius montium more tuum nebulas
transfigit, amore pluente, tuas.

Magnis tu donator et exiguis,
es vivificator inesque animis,
qui, cum vigeamus, itura seges,
et deficiamus, immobilis es.

Colit te, decore nitensque Deus,
angelicus ore velato chorus.
Hic quoque colare, modoque doce
ne conspiciare iubar facere.

MM 6–15.6.99