Author: Johann Rist; Catherine Winkworth Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7 Appears in 8 hymnals First Line: All ye Gentile lands awake Lyrics: 1. All ye Gentile lands awake!
Thou, O Salem, rise and shine!
See the day-spring o’er you break,
Heralding a morn divine,
Telling, God hath called to mind
Those who long in darkness pined.
2. Lo! the shadows flee away,
For our Light is come at length,
Brighter than all earthly day,
Source of being, life and strength!
Whoso on this Light would gaze
Must forsake all evil ways.
3. Ah how blindly did we stray
Ere shone forth this glorious Sun,
Seeking each his separate way,
Leaving Heaven, unsought, unwon;
All our looks were earthward bent,
All our strength on earth was spent.
4. Earthly were our thoughts and low,
In the toils of folly caught,
Tossed of Satan to and fro,
Counting goodness all for naught;
By the world and flesh deceived,
Heaven’s true joys we disbelieved.
5. Then were hidden from our eyes
All the law and grace of God;
Rich and poor, the fools and wise,
Wanting light to find the road
Leading to the heavenly life,
Wandered lost in care and strife.
6. But the glory of the Lord
Hath arisen on us today;
We have seen the light outpoured
That must surely drive away
All things that to night belong,
All the sad earth’s woe and wrong.
7. Thy arising, Lord, shall fill
All my thoughts in sorrow’s hour;
Thy arising, Lord, shall still
All my dread of death’s dark power;
Through my smiles and through my tears
Still Thy light, O Lord, appears.
8. Let me, Lord in peace depart
From this evil world to Thee;
Where Thyself sole Brightness art,
Thou hast kept a place for me:
In the shining city there
Crowns of light Thy saints shall wear. Used With Tune: UNSER HERRSCHER Text Sources: Translation: Lyra Germanica, 1862, pages 32-4
All Ye Gentile Lands Awake!
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