John Brownlie (trans.) · 15 of 89
Our highest thought of God is vain
Κύριε ὁ Θεὸς ἡμῶν, οὗ τὸ κράτος ἀνείκαστον, καὶ ἡ δόξα ἀκατάληπτος, οὗ τὸ ἔλεος ἀμέτρητον, καὶ ἡ φιλανθρωπία ἄφατος·
I Our highest thought of God is vain; Whate'er of knowledge we may know, Our darkened minds but darker grow, We ne'er can to the light attain.
II Beyond the mountain tops that rise, Still higher altitudes appear; Climb as we may, we come not near The peaks that pierce the azure skies.
III Beyond the farthest stretch of mind, The wisdom of our God extends; We touch the love that never ends, And only know that it is kind.
IV We cannot gaze upon the sun, Save through the mists from earth that rise; God's glory only meets our eyes When veiled in the One.
V Yea, none but God His love can know, Nor can The Christ that love express; The gift is ever something less, Than is the love the gift would show.
VI Our minds, our hearts, our spirits fail In all our searching God to find; We only know that He is kind, And nought that knowledge can assail.
VII No soul can rise to God, alone, The height divine we cannot reach; Do Thou, O Christ, our blindness teach, Until we know as we are known.
