William Cowper (1731–1800)

Ere GOD had built the mountains,

Or rais’d the fruitful hills;

Before he fill’d the fountains

That feed the running rills;

In me, from everlasting,

The wonderful I AM

Found pleasures never wasting,

And Wisdom is my name.

When, like a tent to dwell in,

He spread the skies abroad;

And swath’d about the swelling

Of ocean’s mighty flood;

He wrought by weight and measure,

And I was with him then;

Myself the Father’s pleasure,

And mine, the sons of men.

Thus wisdom’s words discover

Thy glory and thy grace,

Thou everlasting lover

Of our unworthy race!

Thy gracious eye survey’d us

Ere stars were seen above;

In wisdom thou hast made us,

And dy’d for us in love.

And couldst thou be delighted

With creatures such as we!

Who when we saw thee, slighted

And nail’d thee to a tree?

Unfathomable wonder,

And mystery divine!

The voice that speaks in thunder,

Says, „Sinner I am thine!”