Author: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius; Carl P. Daw Jr. Meter: Irregular Appears in 1 hymnal Scripture: Hebrews 1:1-8 First Line: Corde natus ex parentis (From the Parent’s heart, the firstborn) Lyrics: Corde natus ex parentis
Ante mundi exordium
A et O cognominatus,
ipse fons et clausula
Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt,
quaeque post futura sunt.
Saeculorum saeculis.
1 From the Parent’s heart, the firstborn
when no worlds had been begun,
this is Alpha and Omega,
source and end that join as one
all that is now, ever has been,
and in future will be done,
evermore and evermore.
2 Word who ordered and created,
by whose word all came to be,
calling forth threefold creation:
heaven, earth, encircling sea,
filled with life that shares the moon’s glow
and the sun’s warm energy,
evermore and evermore.
3 Here is One whom seers and sages
longed to know in ancient days,
One foretold by faithful prophets,
singing with their hearts ablaze.
So shines forth the One long promised,
who inspires all creatures’ praise,
evermore and evermore.
4 Let the highest heavens ring out
with angelic melody.
All who have the pow’r to praise God,
sing, wherever you may be.
Let no mortal tongue keep silent;
voices, blend in harmony,
evermore and evermore. Topics: Creation; Heritage Before 1500; Jesus Christ Advent of; Jesus Christ Birth of; Praise Used With Tune: DIVINUM MYSTERIUM Text Sources: “Corde natus ex parentis,” 4th–5th c.
From the Parent’s Heart, the Firstborn (Corde natus ex parentis)