All My Heart This Night Rejoices

Tune: Ebeling · Meter 8 3 3 6 8 3 3 6

1 All my heart this night rejoices, As I hear, Far and near, Sweetest angel voices; "Christ is born," their choirs are singing, Till the air Ev'rywhere Now with joy is ringing.

2 For it dawns,- the promised morrow Of His birth Who the earth Rescues from her sorrow. God to wear our form descendeth, Of His grace To our race Here His Son He lendeth:

3 Yea, so truly for us careth, That His Son All we've done As our off'ring beareth; As our Lamb who, dying for us, Bears our load, And to God Doth in peace restore us.

4 Hark! a voice from yonder manger, Soft and sweet, Doth entreat, "Flee from woe and danger; Brethren come, from all doth grieve you You are freed, All you need I will surely give you."

5 Come then, let us hasten yonder; Here let all, Great and small, Kneel in awe and wonder. Love Him who with love is yearning; Hail the Star That from far Bright with hope is burning!

Words: Paul Gerhardt (1607–1676); translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)
Music: Johann Georg Ebeling (1637–1676); setting by unknown
Scripture: Lk 2:8-15, Is 7:14, 9:2-7, Gal 4:4, Heb 2:14-17
Public domain. From the Open Hymnal Project.