Blest Creator of the Light

Blest Creator of the light,
Making day with radiance bright,
Thou didst o’er the forming earth
Give the golden light its birth.

Shade of eve with morning ray
Took from Thee the name of day;
Darkness now is drawing nigh;
Listen to our humble cry.

May we ne’er by guilt depressed
Lose the way to endless rest;
Nor with idle thoughts and vain
Bind our souls to earth again.

Rather may we heavenward rise
Where eternal treasure lies;
Purified by grace within,
Hating every deed of sin.

Holy Father, hear our cry,
Through Thy Son our Lord most high,
Whom our thankful hearts adore
With the Spirit evermore.

Author: Unknown

This is an English translation of the 6th-century Latin office hymn "Lucis Creator Optime" (part of the daily office for Sunday Vespers). The original Latin author is traditionally St. Gregory the Great, but the specific English rendering given here does not match the well-known 19th-century translation by John Mason Neale and appears to be an anonymous or lesser-known version, hence listed as Unknown.