The Hymnal ‎#518

518. Hark! the voice eternal

Hark! the voice eternal,
Robed in majesty,
Calling into being
Earth and sea and sky;
Hark! in countless numbers
All the angel-throng
Hail creation's morning
With one burst of song.
High in regal glory,
'Mid eternal light,
Reign, O King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

Bright the world and glorious,
Calm both earth and sea,
Noble in its grandeur
Stood man's purity;
Came the great transgression,
Came the saddening fall,
Death and desolation
Breathing over all.
Still in regal glory,
'Mid eternal light,
Reigned the King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

473
Long the nations waited,
Through the troubled night,
Looking, longing, yearning,
For the promised light.
Prophets saw the morning
Breaking far away,
Minstrels sang the splendour
Of that opening day;
Whilst in regal glory,
'Mid eternal light,
Reigned the King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

Brightly dawned the Advent
Of the newborn King,
Joyously the watchers
Heard the angels sing.
Sadly closed the evening
Of his hallowed life,
As the noontide darkness
Veiled the last dread strife.
Lo! again in glory,
'Mid eternal light,
Reigns the King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

Lo! again he cometh,
Robed in clouds of fight,
As the Judge eternal,
Armed with power and might.
Nations to his footstool
Gathered then shall be;
Earth shall yield her treasures,
And her dead, the sea.
Till the trumpet soundeth,
'Mid eternal light,
Reign, thou King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

474
Jesus! Lord and Master,
Prophet, Priest, and King,
To thy feet, triumphant,
Hallowed praise we bring.
Thine the pain and weeping,
Thine the victory;
Power, and praise, and honour,
Be, O Lord, to thee.
High in regal glory,
'Mid eternal light,
Reign, O King immortal,
Holy, infinite.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Hark! the voice eternal
• Author: John Julian (1882)
• Meter: 6.5., twelve lines
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1916
• Topic: Advent; Processional; Sunday Schools: Processionals

Tune Information

• Name: VOX AETERNA
• Composer: Horatio Parker (1903)
• Meter: 6.5., twelve lines
• Incipit: 31566 55343 33156
• Key: C Major