Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning

Words: Reginald Heber · Music: The Temple Harmony, 1826 · 1811

Verse 1
Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Chorus
Brightest and best of the stars of the morning,
dawn on our darkness, and lend us thine aid.
Star of the east, the horizon adorning,
guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

Verse 2
Cold on his cradle the dewdrops are shining;
low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.
Angels adore him in slumber reclining,
Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.

Verse 3
Shall we not yield him, in costly devotion,
odors of Edom and off'rings divine,
gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

Verse 4
Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
vainly with gifts would his favor secure.
Richer by far is the heart's adoration;
dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

Words: Reginald Heber, 1811 | Music: The Temple Harmony, 1826

Psalm 51; Isaiah 60; Micah 6; Matthew 2; Luke 2; Revelation 22

Epiphany · Jesus, Birth of · Jesus, Epiphany of · Jesus, Humanity of