When Jordan hushed his waters still,

And silence slept on Zion’s hill,

When Bethlehem’s shepherds, thro’ the night,

Watched o’er their flocks by starry light—

2 Hark! from the midnight hills around,

A voice of more than mortal sound,

In distant hallelujahs stole,

Wild murmuring o’er the raptured soul.

3 On wheels of light, on wings of flame,

The glorious hosts of Zion came;

High heaven with songs of triumph rung,

While thus they struck their harps and sung:

4 “O Zion, lift thy raptured eye;

The long-expected hour is nigh;

The joys of nature rise again;

The Prince of Salem comes to reign.

5 “See, Mercy, from her golden urn,

Pours a rich stream to them that mourn;

Behold, she binds with tender care

The bleeding bosom of despair.

6 “He comes to cheer the trembling heart:

Bids Satan and his host depart;

Again the day-star gilds the gloom,

Again the bowers of Eden bloom.”

Behold the woman’s promised seed!

Behold the great Messiah come!

Behold the prophets all agreed

To give him the superior room!

2 Abrah’m, the saint, rejoiced of old,

When visions of the Lord he saw;

Moses, the man of God, foretold

This great fulfiller of his law.