24 Our thanks and praise to Thee be given

1 Our thanks and praise to Thee be given, Thou Lord of earth and Lord of heaven, For countless hosts of angels bright, That serve Thy Son in cloudless light. 2 Pure in their nature, good, and true, 'Tis their delight Thy will to do; From heaven they come the souls to guard That trust in Thy most holy word. 3 They joy when but one sinner turns; For Thee their zeal forever burns; And turn full many an ill away. 4 And little ones, awake, asleep, And every child of Thine, they keep; O'er all Thy kingdom, far and near, They give their kind and loving care. 5 When death approaches, then they come, To soften pain, and guide us home; And when the spirit leaves the clay, To waft us to the realms of day. 6 Give us, O Lord, the grace and power To serve Thee well each day and hour; Grant us the zeal and fervent love To serve as angels serve above. 7 Let these good spirits with us be, When in Thy house we worship Thee; And bid them all our path defend Till this our life on earth shall end.