God in His love for us lent us this planet,
Gave
it a purpose in time and in space:
Small
as spark from the fire of creation,
Cradle
of life and the home of our race.
2
Thanks
be to God for its bounty and beauty,
Life
that sustain us in body and mind:
Plenty
for all, if we learn how to share it,
Riches
undreamed of to fathom and find.
3
Long
have our human wars ruined its harvest;
Long
has earth bowed to the terror of force;
Long
have we wasted what others have need of,
Poisoned
the fountain of life at its source.
4
Earth
is the Lord’s: it is ours to enjoy it,
Ours,
as His steward to farm and defend.
From
its pollution, misuse, and destruction,
Good
Lord, deliver us, world without end!