God Moves in a Mysterious Way

About the poet

William Cowper (1731-1800) William Cowper began to write poetry late in life and as means of keeping his mind from brooding over those torturing religious anxieties which more than once turned his melancholy into positive madness. His principal poem is `The Task'.

Introduction to the poem

The poem God Moves in a Mysterious Way tells us how God is beyond human perception and how weakly we understand Him. It tells us that the kindness of God tastes bitter in the beginning but has the soothing effect of nectar.

Text of the poem

God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform

He plants his foot steps in the sea,
And rides upon the storm

Judge not the lord by feeble sense,
But trust him for his grace.

Behind a frowning providence,
He hides a smiling face.

His purposes will ripen fast,
Unfolding every hour

The bud may have a bitter taste,
But sweet will be the flower

Blind unbelief is sure to err,
And scan his work in vain

God his own interpreter,
And he will make it plain.

Additional Resources

A record my desktop recording of the same video can be accessed from: http://youtu.be/nbS2l1s9WvA

New words in the poem

1 feeble: weak
2 grace: favour
3 frown: show anger
4 providennce: God`s care of human beings

Evaluation

Complete the lines:

Judge not the - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - – – hour.