No War nor Battle’s Sound

No war nor bat­tle’s sound

Was heard the world around—

No hos­tile chiefs to fu­ri­ous com­bat ran;

But peace­ful was the night

In which the Prince of Light

His reign of peace up­on the earth be­gan.

No con­quer­or’s sword He bore

Nor war­like ar­mor wore

Nor haugh­ty pas­sions roused to con­test wild;

In peace and love He came

And gen­tle was the reign

Which o’er the earth He spread by in­flu­ence mild.

Unwilling kings ob­eyed

And sheathed the bat­tle blade

And called their bloody le­gions from the field;

In si­lent awe they wait

And close the war­ri­or’s gate

Nor know to whom their hom­age thus they yield.

The peace­ful Con­quer­or goes

And tri­umphs o’er His foes

His wea­pons drawn from ar­mor­ies above;

Behold the van­quished sit

Submissive at His feet

And strife and hate are changed to peace and love.