The morning star upon us gleams

Representative Text

1 The Morning Star upon us gleams;
How full of grace and truth His beams,
How passing pair His splendor!
Good Shepherd, David's proper heir,
My King in heaven, Thou dost me bear
Upon Thy bosom tender.
Nearest,
Dearest,
Highest, brightest,
Thou delightest
Still to love me,
Thou, so high enthroned above me.

2 Strike deep into this heart of mine
Thy rays of love, Thou Star divine,
And fire its dying embers:
And grant that naught have power to part
Me from Thy body, Lord, who art
The life of all Thy members.
I stand,
Thy hand
Ever taking,
Ne'er forsaking;
Naught shall ail me:
Bread of life, Thou wilt not fail me.

3 O holy Jesus, when the light
Of Thy dear face shines on me bright,
Then heavenly joy doth thrill me.
O Lord, my sure and steadfast good,
Thy word, Thy Spirit, body, blood,--
With life, new life, they fill me.
This day,
I pray:
Mercy showing,
Grace bestowing,
Look on me, Lord,
Thy own word is all my plea, Lord.

4 Thou, mighty Father, in Thy Son
Didst love me, ere Thou hadst begun
This ancient world's foundation.
Thy Son hath made a friend of me,
And when in spirit Him I see
I've done with tribulation.
What bliss
Is this!
Where He liveth
Me He giveth
Life for ever;
Nothing me from Him can sever.

5 Lift up the voice and strike the string,
Let all glad sounds of music ring
In God's high praises blended.
Christ will be with me all the way,
Today, tomorrow, every day,
Till traveling days be ended.
Sing out,
Ring out
Triumph glorious,
O victorious,
Chosen nation;
Praise the God of your salvation.


Source: The Lutheran Hymnary #220

Author: Philipp Nicolai

Philipp Nicolai (b. Mengeringhausen, Waldeck, Germany, 1556; d. Hamburg, Germany, 1608) lived an eventful life–he fled from the Spanish army, sparred with Roman Catholic and Calvinist opponents, and ministered to plague-stricken congregations. Educated at Wittenberg University, he was ordained a Lutheran pastor in 1583 in the city of Herdecke. However, he was soon at odds with the Roman Catholic town council, and when Spanish troops arrived to reestablish Roman dominance, Nicolai fled. In 1588 he became chief pastor at Altwildungen and court preacher to Countess Argaretha of Waldeck. During that time Nicolai battled with Calvinists, who disagreed with him about the theology of the real presence of Christ in the Lord's Supper. These doctri… Go to person page >

Translator: E. J. Palmer

(no biographical information available about E. J. Palmer.) Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: The morning star upon us gleams
German Title: Wie schön leuchtet der Morgenstern
Author: Philipp Nicolai
Translator: E. J. Palmer
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET

Adapting a tune written for Psalm 100 found in Wolff Köphel's Psalter (1538), Nicolai composed WIE SCHÖN LEUCHTET, which was published with the text in 1599. Although the tune was originally more varied rhythmically, the hymnal version here is isorhythmic (all equal rhythms) and set to the rich ha…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 8 of 8)

Children's Chapel Song Book #d65

Hymnal for Church and Home. 4th ed. #d118

Page Scan

Hymns and Chorales #142

The Concordia Hymnal #d355

The Concordia Hymnal. Rev. #d356

TextPage Scan

The Lutheran Hymnary #220

Young People's Luther League Convention Song Book. 12th ed. #d91

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