Light’s Glittering Morn

Light’s glittering morn bedecks the sky;
Heav’n thunders forth its victory cry;
The glad earth shouts her triumph high,
And groaning hell makes wild reply,
While He, the King, the mighty King
Despoiling death of all its sting,
And trampling down the pow’rs of night,
Brings forth His ransomed Saints to light.
That Eastertide with joy was bright,
The sun shone out with fairer light,
When to their longing eyes restor’d
Th’Apostles saw their risen Lord:
He bade them see His hands, His side,
Where yet the glorious wounds abide;
Those tokens true with made it plain
Their Lord indeed was risen again.
O Jesu, King of gentleness,
Do Thou Thyself our hearts possess;
That we may give Thee all our days,
The tribute of our grateful praise.
O Lord of all with us abide.

The strife is o’er, the battle done,
In this our joyful Eastertide;
The victory of life is won,
From ev’ry weapon death can wield,
Thine own redeemed for ever shield.
The song of triumph has begun.
Alleluia.
All praise be thine, O risen Lord,
From death to endless life restored;
All praise to God, the Father be,
And Holy Ghost eternally.
Alleluia. Amen.

Horatio W. Parker (1863-1919)