O Night of Nights, Supreme Delights

O night of nights

su­preme de­lights

Thy watch­es charm and bless;

And joys of Heav’n

pro­fuse­ly giv’n

Refresh earth’s wil­der­ness.

The sad

sick world through Eve lies furled

In clouds of death and night;

But God doth rise in hu­man guise

To be its life and light.

Whom an­gels own as God alone

Is clothed by mor­tal hands;

In cat­tle stall

the Lord of all

Sleeps clasped in swath­ing bands.

In cra­dle laid

His voice is stayed

Who is th’eter­nal Word:

The sun grows pale

his forc­es fail;

What means all we have heard?

O shaft of love

to God ab­ove

A rock hewn home is giv’n:

Farewell ye stars; hail

crib and bars;

A man­ger is my heav­en.