Behold, the Joyful Day Is Nigh

Behold

the joy­ful day is nigh

And an­gels’ voic­es from on high

Proclaim the news in ear­ly morn

That the Good Shep­herd now is born.

In qui­et splen­dor forth He comes

The scat­tered sheep and ten­der lambs

To ga­ther

and their fold pre­pare

With all a shep­herd’s ten­der care.

The gen­tle Shep­herd we be­hold

Who

not with sil­ver and with gold

But by His suf­fer­ing and His death

Will save us from eter­nal wrath.

His Church

though small its seed may be

Shall grow in­to a migh­ty tree.

With fruit­ful branch­es spread­ing o’er

The earth till time shall be no more.

His word shall like a gen­tle rain

Make all the earth re­joice again

And yield a rich and blest in­crease

In truth

and pur­ity

and peace.

And Heav­en and earth shall pass away

Yet shall His word re­main for aye;

All tongues shall soon with one ac­cord

Proclaim Him Sav­ior

God and Lord.

Arise and shine

thy Light is come

O hu­man­kind

O Chris­ten­dom;

Thy glo­ry and thy peace is here;

The Sav­ior of the world draws near.

All praise and glo­ry be to Thee;

For wis­dom

pow­er

and ma­jes­ty;

And for Thy grace

and mer­cy

Lord

Forever be Thy name ad­ored.