I

Gone is the glowing orb of day,

The hues of sunset fade away,

And all the world is still;

The starlight sparkles to the sight,

As fall the curtains of the night

On every vale and hill.

II

O God, 'twas night when, all too soon,

The dark eclipsed the light at noon;

And men, convulsed with dread,

The Cross upon the hill descried

On which the God-man groaned and died,

With shame upon His head.

III

And night prevailed with dismal gloom

While, 'prisoned in the awful tomb,

The Christ in stillness lay:

But every night a morn precedes,

And darkness into brightness leads,—

And dawned the glorious day.

IV

O God, in mercy, grant that we

The Resurrection light may see

When death's still night is past;

And to the risen Christ arise,

While morning fills th' eternal skies

With glory that shall last.

V

Gone is the glowing orb of day,

The hues of sunset fade away,

And dark the night descends;

O God, Thy servants guard, we pray,

Till morn awakes another day,

And till life's journey ends.