Go Forth, My Heart, and Seek Delight

Go forth, my heart, and seek delight,
While summer reigns so fair and bright,
View God's abundance daily;
The beauty of these gardens see,
Behold how they for me and thee
Have decked themselves so gaily.

The trees with spreading leaves are blessed,
The earth her dusty rind has dressed
In green so young and tender.
Narcissus and the tulip fair
Are clothed in raiment far more rare
Than Solomon in splendor.

The lark soars upward to the skies,
And from her cote the pigeon flies,
Her way to woodlands winging.
The silver-throated nightingale
Fills mountain, meadow, hill and dale
With her delightful singing.

Fast grows the wheat, like waving gold,
And gives delight to young and old;
All nature with thanksgiving
Lauds Him whose mercy measureless
Vouchsafed the soul of man to bless
With goods that grace his living.

Thy splendor, Lord, doth brightly shine
And fills my heart with joy divine
While here on earth abiding;
What, then, may be in store for me
And all who heaven's glory see,
In golden halls residing?

O choose me for Thy paradise,
Let soul and body till I rise
Still flourish, tiring never.
With Thee alone will I abide,
Thine honor serve, and none beside,
Both here and there forever.

- by Paul Gerhardt; translated by Catherine Winkworth

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