Songs 19

¹The race that long in darkness pin’d

have seen a glorious light;

The people dwell in day, who dwelt

in death’s surrounding night.

²To hail thy rise, thou better Sun!

the gath’ring nations come,

Joyous, as when the reapers bear

the harvest treasures home.

³For thou our burden hast remov’d,

and quell’d th’ oppressor’s sway,

Quick as the slaughter’d squadrons fell

in Midian’s evil day.

⁴To 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.

⁵His name shall be the Prince of Peace,

for evermore ador’d,

The Wonderful, the Counsellor,

the great and mighty Lord.

⁶His pow’r increasing still shall spread,

his reign no end shall know;

Justice shall guard his throne above,

and peace abound below.