She is my mother, for she gave me birth;

She is my tender nurse, she gives me food;

But what's a creature, Lord, compared with Thee?

Or what's my mother or my nurse to me?

The highest honors that the world can boast

Are subjects far too low for my desire;

The brightest beams of glory are, at most,

But dying sparkles of thy living fire;

The proudest flames that earth can kindle be

But nightly glowworms if compared to Thee.