Scripture Verse

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2

Introduction

portrait
John Morrison (1746–1798)

Words: John Mor­ri­son, Scot­tish Pa­ra­phras­es, 1781.

Music: St. Le­on­ard (Smart) Hen­ry T. Smart, 1867 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Henry T. Smart (1813–1879)

Lyrics

The race that long in dark­ness pined,
Have seen a glo­ri­ous light;
The peo­ple dwell in day, who dwelt
In death’s sur­round­ing night.

To hail Thy rise, Thou bet­ter Sun,
The ga­ther­ing nations come,
Joyous as when the reap­ers bear
The har­vest trea­sures home.

For Thou our bur­den hast re­moved,
And quelled the op­press­or’s sway,
Quick as the slaugh­tered squad­rons fell
In Mi­dian’s ev­il day.

To us a Child of hope is born,
To us a Son is giv’n,
Him shall the tribes of earth ob­ey,
Him all the hosts of Heav’n.

His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
Forevermore adored,
The Won­der­ful, the Coun­sel­or,
The great and migh­ty Lord.

His pow’r in­creas­ing still shall spread,
His reign no end shall know:
Justice shall guard His throne above,
And peace abound below.