"Brightest and Best of the Sons of the Morning"
                      by Reginald Heber, 1783-1826
                                Text From:
                    THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
           (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942) p.102



        1. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
        Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
        Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
        Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

        2. Cold on His cradle the dewdrops are shining;
        Low lies His head with the beasts of the stall.
        Angels adore Him in slumber reclining,
        Maker and Monarch and Savior of all.

        3. Shall we not yield Him, In costly devotion
        Odors of Edom and offerings divine,
        Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean,
        Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine?

        4. Vainly we offer each ample oblation,
        Vainly with gifts would His favor secure.
        Richer by far is the heart's adoration;
        Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

        5. Brightest and best of the sons of the morning,
        Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid;
        Star of the East, the horizon adorning,
        Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid.

        
Notes from _The Lutheran Hymnal_ Hymn #128 Text: Matt. 2:11 Author: Reginald Heber, 1811 Composer: John P. Harding, 1892 Tune: "Morning Star"
This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu
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