The Book of Praise ‎#135

135. Christians, awake

1 Christians, awake! salute the happy morn,
whereon the Saviour of the world was born;
rise to adore the mystery of love
which hosts of angels chanted from above;
with them the joyful tidings first begun
of God Incarnate and the virgin's son.

2 Then to the watchful shepherds it was told,
who heard the angel herald's voice, "Behold,
I bring good tidings of a saviour's birth
to you and all the nations on the earth;
God has this day fulfilled the promised word:
this day is born a saviour, Christ the Lord."

3 Then went the shepherds straight to Bethlehem
to see the wonder that was told to them,
and found, with Joseph and the blessed maid,
her son, the Saviour, in a manger laid;
joyful, the wondrous story they proclaim,
the first apostles of his infant fame.

4 Oh may we keep and ponder in our mind
God's wondrous love in saving humankind;
trace we the babe, who has retrieved our loss,
from his poor manger to his bitter cross;
saved by his love, unceasing we shall sing
eternal praise to heaven's almighty King.

Text Information

• First Line: Christians, awake! salute the happy morn
• Title: Christians, awake
• Paraphraser: John Byrom, 1692-1763 (alt.)
• Meter: 10 10 10 10 10 10
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1997
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:8-20
• Topic: Canticles and Scripture Paraphrases; Church Year: Christmas; Cross; New Day; Processionals
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: YORKSHIRE
• Composer: John Wainwright, 1723-1768
• Meter: 10 10 10 10 10 10
• Key: C Major
• Copyright: Public Domain