EPIPHANY.

O Jesus, King of Glory!

Both David’s Lord and Son!

Thy realm endures forever,

In heaven is fixed Thy throne;

Help that in earth’s dominions,

Throughout from pole to pole,

Thy realm may spread salvation

To each benighted soul!

2. The Eastern sages, bringing

Their tribute-gifts to Thee,

Bear witness to Thy kingdom

And humbly bow the knee.

To Thee the star is pointing,

To Thee, Incarnate Word;

Hence joyously we hail Thee:

Our Savior and our Lord!

3. Thou art a mighty Monarch,

As by the Word we’re told,

Yet carest Thou but little

For earthly goods or gold;

On no proud steed Thou ridest,

Thou wear’st no jeweled crown,

Nor dwell’st in lordly castle,

But bearest scoff and frown.

4. Yet art Thou decked with beauty,

With rays of glorious light;

Thou ever teem’st with goodness,

And all Thy ways are right.

Vouchsafe to shield Thy people

With Thine almighty arm

That they may dwell in safety

From those who mean them harm.

5. Ah, look on me with pity,

Though I am weak and poor,

Admit me to Thy kingdom,

To dwell there, blest and sure!

I pray Thee, guide and keep me

Safe from my bitter foes,

From sin and death and Satan;

Free me from all my woes.

6. And bid Thy Word within me

Shine as the fairest star;

Keep sin and all false doctrine

Forever from me far.

Help me confess Thee truly

And with Thy Christendom

Here own Thee King and Savior

And in the world to come.

The Star proclaims the King is here;

But, Herod, why this senseless fear?

He takes no realms of earth away

Who gives the realms of heavenly day.

2. The wiser Magi see from far

And follow on His guiding star;

And led by light to light they press

And by their gifts their God confess.

3. Within the Jordan’s crystal flood

In meekness stands the Lamb of God

And, sinless, sanctifies the wave,

Mankind from sin to cleanse and save.

4. At Cana first His power is shown;

His might the blushing waters own

And, changing, as He speaks the word,

Flow wine, obedient to their Lord.

5. All glory, Jesus, be to Thee

For this Thy glad Epiphany;

Whom with the Father we adore

And Holy Ghost forevermore.

Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

2. Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;

Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall:

Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,

Maker and Monarch and Savior of all!

3. Say, shall we yield Him, in costly devotion,

Odors of Edom and offerings divine,

Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,

Myrrh from the forest, or gold from the mine?

4. Vainly we offer each ample oblation;

Vainly with gifts would His favor secure.

Richer by far is the heart’s adoration;

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

5. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,

Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;

Star of the East, the horizon adorning,

Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Hail, Thou Source of every blessing,

Sovereign Father of mankind!

Gentiles now, Thy grace possessing,

In Thy courts admission find.

Grateful now we fall before Thee,

In Thy Church obtain a place;

Now by faith behold Thy glory,

Praise Thy truth, adore Thy grace.

2. Once far off, but now invited,

We approach Thy sacred throne;

In Thy covenant united,

Reconciled, redeemed, made one.

Now revealed to Eastern sages,

See the star of mercy shine;

Mystery hid in former ages,

Mystery great of love divine.

3. Hail, Thou all-inviting Savior!

Gentiles now their offerings bring;

In Thy temple seek Thy favor.

Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.

May we, body, soul, and spirit,

Live devoted to Thy praise,

Glorious realms of bliss inherit,

Grateful anthems ever raise!

As with gladness men of old

Did the guiding star behold,

As with joy they hailed its light,

Leading onward, beaming bright,

So, most gracious Lord, may we

Evermore be led by Thee.

2. As with joyful steps they sped

To that lowly manger-bed.

There to bend the knee before

Him whom heaven and earth adore,

So may we with willing feet

Ever seek Thy mercy-seat.

3. As they offered gifts most rare

At that manger rude and bare,

So may we with holy joy,

Pure and free from sin’s alloy,

All our costliest treasures bring,

Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.

4. Holy Jesus, every day

Keep us in the narrow way;

And when earthly things are past,

Bring our ransomed souls at last

Where they need no star to guide,

Where no clouds Thy glory hide.

5. In the heavenly country bright

Need they no created light;

Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,

Thou its Sun which goes not down;

There forever may we sing

Alleluias to our King!

Songs of thankfulness and praise,

Jesus, Lord, to Thee we raise,

Manifested by the star

To the sages from afar,

Branch of royal David’s stem,

In Thy birth at Bethlehem.

Anthems be to Thee addressed,

God in man made manifest.

2. Manifest at Jordan’s stream,

Prophet, Priest, and King supreme,

And at Cana, wedding-guest,

In Thy Godhead manifest;

Manifest in power divine,

Changing water into wine.

Anthems be to Thee addressed,

God in man made manifest.

3. Manifest in making whole

Palsied limbs and fainting soul;

Manifest in valiant fight,

Quelling all the devil’s might;

Manifest in gracious will,

Ever bringing good from ill.

Anthems be to Thee addressed,

God in man made manifest.

4. Sun and moon shall darkened be,

Stars shall fall, the heavens shall flee;

Christ will then like lightning shine,

All will see His glorious sign;

All will then the trumpet hear,

All will see the Judge appear;

Thou by all wilt be confessed,

God in man made manifest.

5. Grant us grace to see Thee, Lord,

Present in Thy holy Word;

May we imitate Thee now

And be pure as pure art Thou,

That we like to Thee may be

At Thy great Epiphany

And may praise Thee, ever blest,

God in man made manifest.

EPIPHANY.

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