Stars of the Morning, So Gloriously Bright

Above:  Dawn, Crater Lake National Park

Image in the Public Domain

Original Greek Text by St. Joseph the Hymnographer (d. 886)

English Translation (1862) by John Mason Neale (1818-1866)

Hymn Source #1 = The Lutheran Hymnal (1941), The Evangelical Lutheran Synodical Conference of North America

Hymn Source #2 = William Gustave Polack, The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal, 2d ed. (1942)

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Stars of the morning, so gloriously bright,

Filled with celestial virtue and light,

These that, where never followeth day,

Praise the Thrice Holy One ever and aye.

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These are Thy ministers, these dost Thou own,

Lord God of Sabaoth, nearest Thy throne;

These are Thy messengers, these dost Thou send,

Help of the helpless ones, man to defend.

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These keep the guard amid Salem’s dear bowers,

Thrones, principalities, virtues, and powers,

Where, with the living ones, mystical four,

Cherubim, seraphim, bow and adore.

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Then, when the earth was first poised in mid space,

Then, when the planets first sped on their race,

Then, when were ended the six days’ employ,

Then all the sons of God shouted for joy.

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Still let them succor us, still let them fight,

Lord of angelic hosts, battling for right,

Till, where their anthems they ceaselessly pour,

We with the angels may bow and adore.

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