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What do you want of us, great God, who gives
Limitless favor to each thing that lives ?
The Church will not contain you, you, entire
In every inch of water, land and fire.
Riches is useless since to you alone
Belongs each jewel that man thinks his own.
A grateful heart, great God, is all that can
Be offered to you by poor things like man.
You built the sky, embroidered galaxies
And sketched foundations so that from them rise
Perimeters too huge for men to trace
Earth's nakedness you covered with green grace.
Great God of all the world, the sea obeys
Your vast commands and keeps to its set ways.
The rivers richen. Day knows when to dawn.
Night and the twilight linger and are gone.
The Spring brings garlands and the Summer wears
A crown of wheat like girls who dance at fairs.
Autumn dispenses apples, wine and mirth.
Then winter sluggishly prepares the earth.
At night your gardeners spray each plant with dew.
By day your rain wakes withering plants anew.
The beasts eat at your hand and every sense
Is nourished by you with munificence.
Immortal God, grace most continual,
Be praised for ever. Keep us where we shall
Best serve your purpose, now and when we die
Safe in the shadow of your wings that fly.
Translated by Michal J. Mikos
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