Scripture Verse

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day. 1 Thessalonians 5:5

Introduction

Words: Au­re­li­us Pru­den­ti­us (348–cir­ca 413) (Nox et te­ne­brae et nu­bi­la). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Ed­ward Cas­wall, Ly­ra Ca­tho­li­ca, 1849. The mo­di­fied trans­la­tion by Sam­u­el Long­fel­low, in his Hymns of the Spir­it, 1864, is gi­ven be­low.

Music: Fes­tus, from a Ger­man cho­rale in the Mo­ra­vi­an Psal­ter (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Samuel Longfellow
1819–1892

Lyrics

Now with creation’s morning song
Let us, as children of the day,
With wakened heart and purpose strong,
The works of darkness cast away.

O may the morn so pure, so clear,
Its own sweet calm in us instill!
A guileless mind, a heart sincere,
Simplicity of word and will.

And ever, as the day glides by,
May we the busy senses rein;
Keep guard upon the hand and eye,
Nor let the conscience suffer stain.

Grant us, O God, in love to Thee,
Clear eyes to measure things below;
Faith, the invisible to see;
And wisdom, Thee in all to know.