Midnight's Sable Hour Is Passing

Representative Text

1 Midnight’s sable hour is passing,
Silence o’er creation reigns;
Nature rests in softest slumbers,
Stars adorn th’ethereal plains;
Now Judea’s gentle shepherds
Watch their sleeping fleecy care;
When the heavenly portals open,
And soft murmurs wake the air.

2 Then behold a glorious angel
Down from Heav’n directs his flight;
And around the rural watchmen
Sheds an overwhelming light;
“Hail! ye shepherds! fear no evil,
I to you glad tidings bring;
Tidings now thro’ Heav’n resounding,
Praise to your eternal King.

3 "Go to Bethle’m, David’s city,
On this happy, happy morn,
Jesus, Lord of men and angels,
There for you today is born!
Go to Bethlehem; there the Infant
In a humble manger laid,
Where you find Him there adore Him,
To Him endless praise be paid."

4 Heave their hearts with glad emotion,
While they listen to his word;
When he ceased, a choir of angels
Sang mostly sweetly of their Lord;
Glory to Jehovah, glory,
Glory to Jehovah’s Son;
Peace and earth and heav’nly blessing,
Man’s redemption is begun!



Source: The Cyber Hymnal #12372

Author: Anonymous

In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries. Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Midnight’s sable hour is passing
Title: Midnight's Sable Hour Is Passing
Author: Anonymous
Meter: 8.7.8.7 D
Source: Christmas Minstrelsy by Joseph Williams and Henry Gauntlett (London and Mancehster: Novello & Bremner, 1864)
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Cyber Hymnal #12372
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The Cyber Hymnal #12372

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