Hymn Lyrics

PLEASE NOTE: Not all verses may be sung and words may vary in the particular hymn presentation.

How Brightly Beams the Morning Star
Words: Johann Adolf Schlegel (Alteration of Philipp Nicolai’s Original Text)
Music: Wie Schön Leuchtet | Philipp Nicolai
Various translations and texts of this traditional carol:


Version One:

1. How brightly beams the Morning Star!
What sudden radiance from afar
Doth glad us with its shining,
Brightness of God that breaks our night
And fills the darkened souls with light
Who long for truth were pining!
Thy Word, Jesu, inly feeds us,
Rightly leads us, life bestowing;
Praise, oh praise such love o’erflowing.

2. Thou here my Comfort, there my Crown,
Thou King of Heav’n, who camest down
To dwell as man beside me;
My heart doth praise Thee o’er and o’er,
If Thou art mine I ask no more,
Be wealth or fame denied me;
Thee I seek now; none who proves Thee,
None who loves Thee finds Thee fail him;
Lord of life, Thy powers avail him!

3. Through Thee alone can I be blest,
Then deep be on my heart impressed
The love that Thou hast borne me;
So make it ready to fulfill
With burning zeal Thy holy will,
Though men may vex or scorn me;
Savior, let me never lose Thee,
For I choose Thee, thirst to know Thee;
All I am and have I owe Thee!

4. O God, our Father far above,
Thee too I praise for all the love
Thou in Thy Son dost give me!
In Him am I made one with Thee,
My Brother and my Friend is He;
Shall aught affright or grieve me?
He is Greatest, Best, and Highest,
Ever nighest to the weakest;
Fear no foes, if Him thou seekest!

5. O praise to Him who came to save,
Who conquered death and burst the grave;
Each day new praise resoundeth
To Him the Lamb who once was slain,
The Friend whom none shall trust in vain,
Whose grace for aye aboundeth;
Sing, ye heavens, tell the story
Of His glory, till His praises
Flood with light Earth’s darkest places.



Version Two:

1. How bright appears the Morning Star,
With mercy beaming from afar;
The host of heaven rejoices;
O righteous Branch, O Jesse’s Rod!
Thou Son of Man and Son of God!
We, too, will lift our voices:
Jesus, Jesus!
Holy, holy, yet most lowly,
Draw Thou near us;
Great Emmanuel, come and hear us.

2. Though circled by the hosts on high,
He deigned to cast a pitying eye
Upon His helpless creature;
The whole creation’s Head and Lord,
By highest seraphim adored,
Assumed our very nature;
Jesus, grant us,
Through Thy merit, to inherit
Thy salvation;
Hear, O hear our supplication.

3. Rejoice, ye heavens; thou earth, reply;
With praise, ye sinners, fill the sky,
For this His Incarnation.
Incarnate God, put forth Thy power,
Ride on, ride on, great Conqueror,
Till all know Thy salvation.
Amen, amen!
Alleluia, alleluia!
Praise be given
Evermore, by earth and heaven.


Perhaps the closest English translation to Philipp Nicolai’s original seven stanzas of ten lines is the one by Johann Christian Jacobi. He gave this translation in his “Psalmodia Germanica: or, The German Psalmody” published in 1732.

1. How bright appears the Morning-Star,
With Grace and Truth beyond Compare,
The Royal root of JESSE;
O David’s Son, of Jacob’s Line!
My Soul’s Delight, and Spouse Divine,
Thy Love can only bless me.
Precious, Gracious,
Far and Glorious, e’er victorious,
Thou my Treasure,
Far beyond all earthly Pleasure.

2. My choicest Pearl, and precious Crown,
God and the Virgin Mary’s Son,
Thou King of endless Glory!
Thou art compar’d to Sharon’s flow’r;
Thy Gospel and its saving Pow’r
Excells what’s Transitory.
Lovely Lilly,
O Hosanna, Heav’nly Manna,
Thy sweet Favour
Be mine everlasting Savour.

3. Thy Love, so pow’rful and divine,
Dart deep into this Heart of mine,
Thou brilliant Stone and Jewel!
Confirm me more and more to be
A Branch of Thee, the living Tree,
That Self may lose its Fewel.
Sighing, Dying
Is thy Creature; for in Nature
Is no Pleasure
Without Thee, my King and Treasure.

4. From God descends a Glance of Joy.
When thou, with thy most gracious Eye,
Beholdst thy loving Creature:
Immanuel! my sov’reign Good,
Thy Word, thy Spirit, Flesh and Blood
Renew my very Nature;
Grant me sweetly
Thine Embraces, that the Graces
Of Salvation
May root out all Depravation.

5. Thou Father, from Eternity,
In Mercy was inclin’d to me,
Through CHRIST, thy well-beloved;
Thy son has chose me for his Bride;
In this my Spouse I can confide;
My Love shall ne’er be moved.
O! this Bliss is
Of his giving, who’s the Living
Bread and Manna;
Ever will I sing HOSANNA.

6. Tune all your Strings of Lute and Harp,
Resolve the Notes of Flat and Sharp
Into Celestial Concords,
That Nothing may disturb my Frame,
Which is wrapt up in JESUS’ Name,
The sweetest of all Comforts.
Ringing, Singing,
In your Praises, let the Phrases
Of your Duty
Please the Lord of Bliss and Beauty.

7. My Joy to all the World be known,
That my Beloved keeps his Throne,
On Hills of Light and Glory.
He’ll kindly bring me to that Place,
Where all the Wonders of his Grace
Shall lie disclos’d before me.
Amen! Amen!
Lord my Sov’reign! come and govern
All the Nations;
Come! I wait with great Impatience.