Above:  The Hymn Title, from The Evangelical Hymnal (1921)

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Evangelical Hymnal (1921), Evangelical Church (1922-1946), a forerunner of the Evangelical United Brethren Church (1946-1968) and The United Brethren Church (1968-)

Words (published in 1894) by W. Layng

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1.  Sing ye the songs of praise;

Jesus is come!

High your glad voices raise;

Jesus is come!

Cast worldly cares away,

Worship and homage pay;

Welcome the blessed day,

Jesus is come!

2.  This day in Bethlehem,

Jesus was born!

King of Jerusalem,

Jesus was born!

Sun of all righteousness

Shining and blessedness,

Healing our wretchedness,

Jesus was born!

3.  Cleanse us from all our sin,

Saviour Divine!

Make our thoughts pure within,

Saviour Divine!

Lo! now the herald sound

Carols the love profound,

Telling of Jesus found,

Saviour Divine!

4.  Save through Thy merit,

Great Prince of Peace!

Give Thy good Spirit,

Great Prince of Peace!

Let not Thy love depart,

But holy gifts impart,

Born into ev’ry heart,

Great Prince of Peace!

Above:  Part of the Hymn Text, from The Church Hymnary (1927)

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary (1927), Presbyterian

Words (1858) by Edward Caswall (1814-1878)

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1.  See! in yonder manger low,

Born for us on earth below,

See! the tender Lamb appears

Promised from eternal years.

Refrain

Hail, thou ever-blessed morn!

Hail, redemption’s happy dawn!

Sing through all Jerusalem,

“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

2.  Lo! within a manger lies

He who built the starry skies,

He who, throned in height sublime,

Sits amid the cherubim.

Refrain

3.  Say, ye holy shepherds, say

What your joyful news to-day;

Wherefore have ye left your sheep

Of the lonely mountain steep?

Refrain

4.  “As we watched at dead of night,

Lo! we saw a wondrous light:

Angels, singing peace on earth,

Told us of the Saviour’s birth.”

Refrain

5.  Sacred Infant, all Divine,

What a tender love was Thine,

Thus to come from highest bliss

Down to such a world as this!

Refrain

6.  Teach, O teach us, Holy Child,

By Thy face so meek and mild,

Teach us to resemble Thee

In Thy sweet humility.

Refrain

Above:  The Hymn Tune from The Church Hymnary (1927)

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Church Hymnary (1927), Presbyterian

Original German Words by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)

English Translation by Catherine Winkworth (1829-1878)

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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, everywhere,

Now with joy is ringing.

2.  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.

3.  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.

4.  Thee, O Lord, with heed I’ll cherish,

Live to Thee, and with Thee

Dying, shall not perish,

But shall dwell with Thee for ever

Far on high, in the joy,

That can alter never.

Above:  Part of the Hymn, from Glory to God:  The Presbyterian Hymnal (2013)

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Silent Night (Stille Nacht in the original German) is the great Christmas hymn by Father Franz Joseph Mohr (1792-1848), dating to 1816 and published in 1818.  The note in Glory to God:  The Presbyterian Hymnal (2013) mentions the 1816 date, which means that Mohr had the text sitting around long before the Christmas Eve service of 1818.  This fact overturns the part of the traditional story which had the priest writing the text in 1818.

There are English translations of the German text, but the most famous one is that of John Freeman Young (1820-1885), from 1863.  He served as the Episcopal Bishop of Florida from 1867 to 1885.  The most common variations over time in his text explain the difference between

Silent night! Holy night!

and

Silent night, holy night!

The Young text, as reprinted in the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (1996), follows:

1.  Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright,

Round yon Virgin mother and Child.

Holy Infant, so tender and mild,

Sleep in heavenly peace,

Sleep in heavenly peace.

2.  Silent night! Holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight.

Glories stream from heaven afar;

Heav’nly hosts sing, Alleluia;

Christ the Savior is born!

Christ the Savior is born!

3.  Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light

Radiant beams from Thy holy face

With the dawn of redeeming grace,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Marilyn Kay Stulken, in the Hymnal Companion to the Lutheran Book of Worship (Philadelphia, PA:  Fortress Press, 1981), tells me that the above lyrics were anonymous until 1957.  This is consistent with my survey of old hymnals in my collection.  And I have one hymnal published in 1994 which continues to list the author of these lyrics as anonymous.

These words, the John Freeman Young lyrics, remain unaltered (except for the discrepancy between a comma and an exclamation point) in most contemporary hymnals.  Even The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod’s Lutheran Worship (1982), which turns My Faith Looks Up to Thee into My Faith Looks Trustingly, leaves Silent Night as it was.  Yet The New Century Hymnal (1995), United Church of Christ, which contains rewrites of almost all hymns therein, changes the third verse so that

Son of God

becomes

Child of God

and

thy

becomes

your.

I started thinking about the lyrics of Silent Night late last night, when I picked up my copy of Concordia:  A Collection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs (1917) and flipped through its Christmas section.  There I found different lyrics, which The Lutheran Hymnary (1935) replicates.  These words follow:

1.  Holy night! peaceful night!

Through the darkness beams a light,

Yonder, where they sweet vigils keep

O’er the Babe who in silent sleep,

Rests in heavenly peace,

Rests in heavenly peace.

2.  Silent night! holiest night!

Darkness flies, and all is light!

Shepherds hear the angels sing:

Jesus the Savior is here!

Jesus the Savior is here!

3.  Silent night! holiest night!

Guiding Star, O lend thy light!

See the eastern wise men bring

Gifts and homage to our King!

Jesus the Savior is here!

Jesus the Savior is here!

4.  Silent night! holiest night!

Wondrous Star, O lend thy light!

With the angels let us sing,

Hallelujah to our King!

Jesus our Savior is here!

Jesus our Savior is here!

I have seen this fourth stanza accompany the Young lyrics in modern hymnals.  Sometimes these volumes attribute the final verse to Bishop Young, sometimes to Anonymous, and to Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878) on other occasions.  I do not know how many other stanzas she translated, but I know that she deserves the credit for the first verse of the version of the hymn from The Hymnal (1933), Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.:

1.  Silent night! holy night!

All is dark, save the light

Yonder, where they sweet vigil keep

O’er the Babe who in silent sleep

Rests in heavenly peace,

Rests in heavenly peace.

2.  Peaceful night! holiest night!

Darkness flies, all is light;

Shepherds hear the angels sing:

“Alleluia! hail the King!

Christ the Saviour is here!

Christ the Saviour is here!”

3.  Silent night! holiest night!

Child of heaven, O how bright

Thou didst smile on us when Thou wast born!

Blest indeed that happy morn,

Full of heavenly joy!

Full of heavenly joy!

I have found various composite versions in The Evangelical Hymnal (1921) and The Methodist Hymnal (1935), both forebears of The United Methodist Hymnal (1989), as well as in the American Lutheran Hymnal (1930).  The latter volume contains the John Freeman Young version then an alternative rendering, a composite which includes the second Young verse.  The first and third stanzas of that composite version follow:

1.  Silent night, holy night!

Golden stars shed their light.

While yon virgin tenderly wakes

At the manger till morning breaks

O’er the heavenly Child,

O’er the heavenly Child.

3.  Silent night, holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light

Shines so sweetly out of Thine eyes;

‘Tis the light of salvation we prize,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,

Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

In 1881 Stopford Brooke (1832-1916), an Irish Anglican clergyman who had converted recently to Unitarianism, published Christian Hymns, reissued twelve years later.  This book included his translation of the Mohr text:

1.  Still the night, holy the night!

Sleeps the world! yet the light

Shines where Mary watches there,

Her child Jesus loved and fair.

Sleeping in heavenly rest;

Sleeping in heavenly rest.

2.  Still the night, holy the night!

Shepherds first told aright

How the Angel of the star

Sang so clear from near and far–

Jesus, a Saviour, is born;

Jesus, a Saviour, is born.

3.  Still the night, holy the night!

Little child, O how bright

Love is smiling from thy face!

Now strikes sweet the hour of grace;

Jesus, our Master, is here,

Jesus, our Master, is here.

The Church Hymnary (1927), Presbyterian, contains a related translation based on the Brooke version:

1.  Still the night, holy the night!

Sleeps the world; hid from sight,

Mary and Joseph in stable bare

Watch o’er the Child beloved and fair,

Sleeping in heavenly rest,

Sleeping in heavenly rest.

2.  Still the night, holy the night!

Shepherds first saw the light,

Heard resounding clear and long,

Far and near, the angel-song,

“Christ the Redeemer is here!

Christ the Redeemer is here!”

3.  Still the night, holy the night!

Son of God,O how bright

Love is smiling from Thy face!

Strikes for us now the hour of grace,

Saviour, since Thou art born!

Saviour, since Thou art born!

I wonder how many other English-language versions I will find.

KENNETH RANDOLPH TAYLOR

NOVEMBER 23, 2013 COMMON ERA

THE FEAST OF SAINT COLUMBAN, ROMAN CATHOLIC ABBOT

THE FEAST OF SAINT CLEMENT OF ROME, BISHOP

THE FEAST OF MIGUEL AGUSTIN PRO, ROMAN CATHOLIC MARTYR

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Above:  The Card Glued Into the Back of My Copy of The Lutheran Hymnary (1935)

Bernhard H. J. Habel (born 1890), was a Norwegian-American Lutheran pastor.  My Internet searches have yielded little information about him.  He organized an English-language congregation (the current American Lutheran Church, Tolna, North Dakota), in 1918.  By 1945 he had become the pastor of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Inwood, Iowa, where he remained through at least 1955.

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1.  O Father, hear us as we pray

For all the boys who are away,

Be near to them wher’er they go,

And keep them safe, we love them so.

2.  Be Thou their strength, their light, their shield

In camp or on the battlefield,

And grant that they may never grow

Away from Thee, who lov’st them so.

3.  All those who sail on sea, in air

Protect, Lord, with Thy tender care;

Keep in their hearts a steady glow

Of faith in Christ, who loved them so.

Above:  Sarah Borthwick Findlater’s Listing in the Index of Authors, Service Book and Hymnal (1958)

Sarah Borthwick Findlater (1823-1907) translated many German hymns into English.

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O Happy Home, Where Thou Art Loved:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/o-happy-home-where-thou-art-loved/

Rejoice, Rejoice, Believers:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/rejoice-rejoice-believers/

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Above:  The Hymn Title

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Concordia Hymnal (1932), U.S. Lutheran

Original German Words (1833) by Carl Johann Philipp Spitta (1801-1859)

English Translation by Sarah Borthwick Findlater (1823-1907)

I found the name of the translator in Service Book and Hymnal (1958).  The Concordia Hymnal (1932) and its sort-of successor, The Ambassador Hymnal for Lutheran Worship (1994), list Spitta as author but do not identify the translator.

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1.  O happy home, where Thou art loved the dearest,

Thou loving Friend and Savior of our race,

And where among the guests there never cometh

One who can hold such high and honored place!

2.  O happy home, where little ones are given

To Thee, O Lord, in humble faith and pray’r,

To Thee, their Friend, who from the heights of heaven

Guides them, and guards with more than mother’s care!

3.  O happy home, where each one serves Thee lowly,

Whatever his appointed work may be,

Till ev’ry common task seems great and holy,

When it is done, O Lord, as unto Thee!

4.  O happy home, where Thou art not forgotten

When joy is overflowing, full and free,

O happy home, where ev’ry wounded spirit

Is brought, Physician, Comforter, to Thee.

5.  And when at last all earthly toil is ended,

All meet Thee in the blessed home above,

From whence Thou camest, where Thou hast ascended,–

Thine everlasting home of peace and love.

Above:  Catherine Winkworth’s Listing in the Translators Index from the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary (1996)

Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) translated many German hymns into English.

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Faith is a Living Power from Heaven:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/faith-is-a-living-power-from-heaven/

Now God Be With Us, For the Night is Closing:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2016/07/10/now-god-be-with-us-for-the-night-is-closing/

When in the Hour of Utmost Need:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/07/22/when-in-the-hour-of-utmost-need/

All My Heart This Night Rejoices:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/11/23/all-my-heart-this-night-rejoices/

Rise, Children of the Kingdom:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/11/22/rise-children-of-the-kingdom/

Lord Jesus Christ, Our Lord Most Dear:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/08/17/lord-jesus-christ-our-lord-most-dear/

Spread, O Spread, Thou Mighty Word (Altered):

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2013/06/03/spread-o-spread-thou-mighty-word/

Spread, Oh, Spread, Thou Mighty Word (Unaltered)

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/02/06/spread-oh-spread-thou-mighty-word/

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/open-now-thy-gates-of-beauty/

Welcome, Thou Victor in the Strife:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/welcome-thou-victor-in-the-strife/

Lord of Light, Enlighten Me:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2012/05/06/lord-of-light-enlighten-me/

Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/lift-up-your-heads-ye-mighty-gates/

The Church of Christ, Which He Hallowed Here:

link

We All Believe in One True God:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/we-all-believe-in-one-true-god/

Liebster Jesu, Wir Sind Hier:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/01/01/liebster-jesu-wir-sind-hier/

In His Temple Now Behold Him:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/in-his-temple-now-behold-him-2/

Jesus, Priceless Treasure:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/01/10/jesus-priceless-treasure/

Oh, Rejoice, Ye Christians, Loudly:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/01/17/oh-rejoice-ye-christians-loudly/

O Jesus, King of Glory:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/o-jesus-king-of-glory/

Lord Jesus Christ, My Life, My Light:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/04/17/lord-jesus-christ-my-life-my-light/

Now Lay We Calmly in the Grave:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/05/29/now-lay-we-calmly-in-the-grave/

Who Knows When Death May Overtake Me:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/05/30/who-knows-when-death-may-overtake-me/

Lord, On Earth I Dwell Sad-Hearted:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/09/14/lord-on-earth-i-dwell-sad-hearted/

Once He Came in Blessing:

https://gatheredprayers.wordpress.com/2015/10/31/once-he-came-in-blessing/

O Enter, Lord, Thy Temple:

link

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Above:  The Hymn Title

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), U.S. Lutheran

Original Words (1651) by Johann Rist (1607-1667)

English Translation by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)

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1.  Rise, children of the kingdom!

The King is drawing nigh:

Arise, and hail with gladness

The Ruler from on high.

Ye Christians, hasten forth!

Your praise and homage bring Him,

And glad Hosannas sing Him;

Naught else your love is worth.

2.  Arise, ye drooping mourners!

The King is very near;

Away with grief and sorrow.

For lo! your help is here.

Behold, in many a place–

O blessed consolation!–

We find Him, our salvation,

In His pure meas of grace.

3.  Arise, ye much afflicted!

The King is not afar;

Rejoice, ye long dejected!

Behold the Morning Star.

The Lord will give you joy;

Though troubles now distress you,

With comfort He will bless you,

E’en death He will destroy.

4.  Arise, ye poor and needy!

The King provides for you;

He comes with succor speedy,

With mercy ever new.

Receive your gracious King,

The giver of all blessing.

Hail Him, His name confessing,

And glad Hosannas sing.

5.  O rich the gifts Thou bring’st us,

Thyself made poor and weak;

O love beyond expression,

That thus can sinners seek!

For this, O Lord, will we

Our joyous tribute bring Thee,

And glad Hosannas sing Thee,

And ever grateful be.

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I found this variation, also credited to Catherine Winkworth as translator, in The Hymnal (1941), of the Evangelical and Reformed Church:

1.  Arise, the kingdom is at hand,

The King is drawing nigh;

Arise with joy, thou faithful band,

to meet the Lord most high!

Look up, ye souls weighed down with care,

The Sovereign is not far;

Look up, faint hearts, from your despair,

Behold the Morning Star!

2.  Look up, ye drooping hearts today,

The King is very near;

O cast your griefs and fears away,

For, lo, your help is here!

Hope on, ye broken hearts, at last

The King comes in His might;

He loved us in the ages past,

When we lay wrapped in night.

3.  O rich the gifts Thou bringest us,

Thyself made poor and weak;

O love beyond compare that thus

Can foes and sinners seek!

For this we raise a gladsome voice

On high to Thee alone,

And evermore with thanks rejoice

Before Thy glorious throne.

Above:  The Hymn Title

Image Source = Kenneth Randolph Taylor

Hymn Source = The Lutheran Hymnary (1935), U.S. Lutheran

Original Words (1653) by Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)

English Translation (1851) by Arthur Tozer Russell (1806-1874)

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1.  O how shall I receive Thee,

How meet Thee on Thy way;

Blest hope of every nation,

My soul’s delight and stay?

O Jesus, Jesus, give me,

By Thine illuming light,

To know whate’er is pleasing

And welcome in Thy sight.

2.  Thy Zion palms is strewing

With branches fresh and fair;

And every soul awaking,

Her anthem shall prepare;

Perpetual thanks and praises

Forth from our hearts shall spring;

And to Thy name the service

Of all our powers we bring.

3.  O ye who sorrow, sinking

Beneath your grief and pain,

Rejoice in His appearing,

Who shall your souls sustain:

He comes, He comes with gladness!

How great is His good-will!

He comes, all grief and anguish

Shall at His word be still.

4.  Ye who with guilty terror

Are trembling, fear no more;

With love and grace the Savior

Shall you to hope restore:

He comes, who contrite sinners

Will with the children place,

The children of His Father,

The heirs of life and grace.

5.  He comes, the Lord, to judgment;

Woe, woe to them who hate!

To those who love and seek Him

He opes the heavenly gate.

Come quickly, gracious Saviour,

And gather us to Thee,

That in the light eternal

Our joyous home may be.