Isaiah 9
9
SONG 19
8,6,8,6
tune: Peterborough, 88; Tiverton, 130.
Isaiah 9:2-8
2-8 The race that long in darkness pin’d
have seen a glorious light;
The people dwell in day, who dwelt
in death’s surrounding night.
2 To hail thy rise, thou better Sun!
the gath’ring nations come,
Joyous, as when the reapers bear
the harvest treasures home.
3 For thou our burden hast remov’d,
and quell’d th’ oppressor’s sway,
Quick as the slaughter’d squadrons fell
in Midian’s evil day.
4 To us a Child of hope is born;
to us a Son is giv’n;
Him shall the tribes of earth obey,
him all the hosts of heav’n.
5 His name shall be the Prince of Peace,
for evermore ador’d,
The Wonderful, the Counsellor,
the great and mighty Lord.
6 His pow’r increasing still shall spread,
his reign no end shall know;
Justice shall guard his throne above,
and peace abound below.
First published by the Church of Scotland in 1781.