For war, plague, pestilence, flood, famine, fire, For Christ discrowned, for false gods set on high;For fools, whose hands must have their hearts' desire, We thank Thee .-- in the darkness .-- and so die.
For shipwreck: Oh, the sob of strangling seas! .-- No matter. For the snake that charms the dove;And (is it not the bitterest of all these?) We thank Thee .-- in our blind faith .-- even for Love.
For breaking hearts; for all that breaks the heart; For Death, the one thing after all the rest,We thank Thee, O our Father! Thou who art, And wast, and shalt be -- knowing these are best.
