For the Beauty of the Earth

Written By: The Good and the Beautiful Published On:

The lyrics of the hymn “For the Beauty of the Earth” are inspiring and timeless. Reflect on God’s precious gifts as you sing along with this gentle and lovely song. Then learn the history of “For the Beauty of the Earth” and print the free downloadable lyrics and Bible memory verse.

  • “For the Beauty of the Earth” Lyrics

    For the beauty of the earth,
    For the glory of the skies,
    For the love which from our birth
    Over and around us lies,
    Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
    This our hymn of grateful praise.

    For the wonder of each hour,
    Of the day and of the night,
    Hill and vale, and tree and flow’r,
    Sun and moon, and stars of light,
    Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
    This our hymn of grateful praise.

    For the joy of human love,
    Brother, sister, parent, child,
    Friends on earth, and friends above,
    For all gentle thoughts and mild.
    Christ, our Lord, to you we raise
    This our hymn of grateful praise.

  • Click the image to download a FREE printable PDF of our “For the Beauty of the Earth” lyrics sheet and a beautiful memory verse.

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Sing along with these lovely verses about the beauty of God’s creation in this illustrated video of “For the Beauty of the Earth” from The Good and the Beautiful Kids YouTube channel!

The History of “For the Beauty of the Earth”

Written as a hymn of thanksgiving by Folliott Sandford Pierpoint, “For the Beauty of the Earth” was first published in London, England, in 1864. The eight-stanza poem was originally titled “The Sacrifice of Praise” and was published in the second edition of Lyra Eucharistica.

  • Folliott Pierpoint, a Queens’ College graduate, grew up in Bath, England. Set among steep hills and valleys along the River Avon in southwestern England, Bath is home to 16th century Saint Peter and Saint Paul abbey, gothic style buildings, and ancient Roman baths. It is believed that Pierpoint wrote the lovely lyrics of “For the Beauty of the Earth” as he walked through his picturesque hometown and admired its beauty.

Who arranged the music for “For the Beauty of the Earth”?

German composer Conrad Kocher wrote a melody called DIX in 1838. Then in 1978 British composer John Rutter wrote a lovely modern melody for Pierpoint’s lyrics. Today, churchgoers and choral groups enjoy singing both arrangements. The three stanza arrangement of “For the Beauty of the Earth” from The Good and the Beautiful uses the DIX melody.

  • A Song of Thanksgiving 

    Each stanza of “For the Beauty of the Earth” expresses awe and gratitude for God’s good gifts. From the beautiful rolling hills to the glorious skies above, He gives us much to be thankful for. Not only did God paint a beautiful world, He filled it with human love and kindness as highlighted in stanza three.

Every day is a good day to give thanks and praise for the beauty in our lives. Comment below with some things your family is thankful for today.

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name. 

Hebrews 13:15

If you’re looking for more faith-based children’s songs, check out The Good and the Beautiful’s Bible songs here.

Frequently Asked Questions About “For the Beauty of the Earth”

Who wrote the lyrics to “For the Beauty of the Earth”?

Folliott Sandford Pierpoint wrote “For the Beauty of the Earth” as a hymn of thanksgiving. The eight-stanza poem was originally titled “The Sacrifice of Praise” and was published in the second edition of Lyra Eucharistica.

Who is Folliott Sandford Pierpoint?

Folliott Sandford Pierpoint was a hymn-writer and poet, and he is best remembered for writing the lyrics to “For the Beauty of the Earth.” Pierpoint was a Queens’ College graduate and grew up in Bath, England.

When was “For the Beauty of the Earth” written?

“For the Beauty of the Earth” was written in 1864 and was first published in London, England, in the same year. 

Who composed music for “For the Beauty of the Earth”?

Conrad Kocher, a German composer, wrote a melody in 1838 called DIX. This melody is commonly used to accompany “For the Beauty of the Earth,” and is the version used in The Good and the Beautiful’s rendition of the beloved hymn. 

However, in 1979, British composer John Rutter wrote a lovely modern melody for Pierpoint’s lyrics. Today, churchgoers and choral groups enjoy singing both arrangements. 

What inspired the song “For the Beauty of the Earth”?

It is believed that Folliott Sanford Pierpoint wrote the lovely lyrics of “For the Beauty of the Earth” as he walked through his picturesque hometown of Bath, England, and admired its beauty.

Where can I get a free download of “For the Beauty of the Earth” lyrics and a printable Bible verse?

The “For the Beauty of the Earth” blog post from The Good and the Beautiful offers a free PDF of the song’s lyrics and a beautiful accompanying memory verse that you can print for free!

Where can I listen to “For the Beauty of the Earth” for free?

Watch and sing along with “For the Beauty of the Earth” in this beautifully illustrated video found on The Good and the Beautiful Kids channel on YouTube.

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