Scripture Verse

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Fa­ther, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

portrait
William H. Bathurst (1796–1877)

Words: Will­iam H. Bath­urst, Psalms and Hymns 1831, page 139.

Music: Sam­uel (Sul­li­van) Ar­thur S. Sul­li­van, 1874 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Millennium Ply­mouth Col­lect­ion, 1855 (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
Arthur S. Sullivan (1842–1900)

Lyrics

Hail, bright­est, hap­pi­est morn,
That ev­er beamed from Hea­ven!
To us a child is born,
To us a son is giv­en;
Let ev­ery heart its hom­age bring
In hon­or to the new­born King.

What won­drous love is this!
The Lord of life ap­pears,
And quits the realms of bliss
For this dark vale of tears;
Consents to tread this curs­èd ground,
Where sin and mi­se­ry abound.

Does not a ran­somed earth
The song of tri­umph raise,
And hail a Sav­ior’s birth
With loud­est notes of praise?
Ah, wretch­ed men! too blind to see
The grace that Heav’en de­signs for thee.

Give us an an­gel’s tongue,
An angel’s will­ing mind;
And let Thy name be sung,
Great God, by all man­kind;
Let the whole earth with one ac­cord
Confess that Je­sus is the Lord.