A popular translation of the hymn is “O Morning Star! how fair and bright” by Catherine Winkworth and is No.149 in her Chorale Book for England, published in 1863.

1. O Morning Star, how fair and bright,
Thou beamest forth in truth and light!
O Sov’reign meek and lowly!
Thou Root of Jesse, David’s Son,
My Lord and Bridegroom, Thou hast won
My heart to serve Thee solely!
Holy art Thou,
Fair and glorious, all-victorious,
Rich in blessing,
Rule and might o’er all possessing.

2. Thou Heavenly Brightness! Light Divine!
O deep within my heart now shine,
And make Thee there an altar!
Fill me with joy and strength to be
Thy member, ever join’d to Thee
In love that cannot falter;
Toward Thee longing Doth possess me,
Turn and bless me,
For Thy gladness
Eye and heart here pine in sadness.

3. But if Thou look on me in love,
There straightways falls from God above
A ray of purest pleasure;
Thy word and Spirit, flesh and blood,
Refresh my soul with heavenly food,
Thou art my hidden treasure;
Let Thy grace, Lord, Warm and cheer me.
O draw near me;
Thou hast taught us
Thee to seek since Thou hast sought us!

4. Here will I rest, and hold it fast,
The Lord I love is First and Last,
The End as the Beginning!
Here I can calmly die, for Thou
Wilt raise me where Thou dwellest now,
Above all tears, all sinning:
Amen! Amen! Come, Lord Jesus,
Soon release us,
With deep yearning,
Lord, we look for Thy returning!


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.