For the beauty of the earth

Fol­li­ot S. Pier­point published this hymn in 1864. It’s one of my favorites. Enjoy!

Video

More hymns here.

Lyrics from the 1987 Psalter Hymnal

   1 For the beauty of the earth,
   for the glory of the skies,
   for the love which from our birth
   over and around us lies.
   
   Refrain:
   Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
   this, our hymn of grateful praise.
   
   2 For the wonder of each hour
   of the day and of the night,
   hill and vale and tree and flower,
   sun and moon and stars of light, [Refrain ]
   
   3 For the joy of human love,
   brother, sister, parent, child,
   friends on earth, and friends above,
   for all gentle thoughts and mild, [Refrain]
   
   4 For yourself, best gift divine,
   to the world so freely given,
   agent of God's grand design:
   peace on earth and joy in heaven. [Refrain]

Original Lyrics, 1864

   For the beauty of the earth,
      For the beauty of the skies,
   For the Love which from our birth
      Over and around us lies:
   Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
   This our Sacrifice of Praise.
   
   For the beauty of each hour
      Of the day and of the night,
   Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
      Sun and moon and stars of light:
   Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
   This our Sacrifice of Praise.
   
   For the joy of ear and eye,
      For the heart and brain's delight,
   For the mystic harmony
      Linking sense to sound and sight:
   Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
   This our Sacrifice of Praise.
   
   For the joy of human love,
      Brother, sister, parent, child,
   Friends on earth, and friends above;
      For all gentle thoughts and mild:
   Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
   This our Sacrifice of Praise.
   
   For each perfect Gift of Thine
      To our race so freely given,
   Graces human and Divine,
      Flowers of earth, and buds of Heaven:
   Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
   This our Sacrifice of Praise.
   
   For Thy Bride that evermore
      Lifteth holy hands above,
   Offering up on every shore
      This Pure Sacrifice of Love:
   Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
   This our Sacrifice of Praise.
   
   For Thy Martyrs' crown of light,
      For Thy Prophets' eagle eye,
   For Thy bold Confessors' might,
      For the lips of Infancy:
   Christ, our God, to Thee we raise
   This our Sacrifice of Praise.
   
   For Thy Virgins' robes of snow,
      For Thy Maiden Mother mild,
   For Thyself, with hearts aglow,
      Jesu, Victim undefiled,
   Offer we at Thine own Shrine
   Thyself, sweet Sacrament Divine.