Hail rising morn! for He hath risen; Hail light that gilds the Eastern skies; For, from the bonds of darkest prison, Thy first beams saw the Christ arise.
O merciful and gracious One! The gates of Hades Thou hast rent, And by Thy Rising, Christ the Son, No more we lie in bondage pent.
To-day the lips of Adam sing; Eve hails the Christ of mankind born; And patriarchs and prophets bring Their hymns to greet the wondrous morn.
And Thine the glory, Thine the power, By glowing hearts in praise expressed; For Thine the might, this glorious hour, By which the sons of men are blessed.
We worship, Lord, before Thee now, For great, and good, and pure art Thou. O Christ, the God, our stumblings heal, And lead us all Thy love to feel.
For of Thy will it pleased Thee well Here, in our flesh, with us to dwell, To bear the Cross, that we might be From Satan's servitude set free.
Wherefore we cry aloud and praise, With thankful voice, Thy name always; For, O! our Saviour, Thou didst bring The joy that makes our souls to sing.
Heavy laden with thy grief, Do thy tears like raindrops flow? Christ hath all thy sorrows borne Long ago.
See Him in the garden, prone, While He poured His soul to God; Then He bore affliction keen, And the rod.
Weary, laden with thy sin, Dost thou bow beneath the load? Cast the burden of thy woe, On thy God.
See Him faint beneath the load, As He bears the ghastly tree; Hear His weary spirit sigh, All for thee.
Sad and doubting, lo! the sun Shines upon a glorious day: He is risen! come, see the place Where He lay.
Glory to our suffering Lord, Praise to our exalted King,-- Source of life and endless bliss,-- Let us bring.
To Thee, O Christ, our God, Great Shepherd, who didst bear The wandering sheep that strayed Back to Thy shepherd care;
Who, pitying, gav'st Thy life, That we might stray no more,-- To Thee our hearts we raise, And Thee our songs adore.
Blest Spirit, source of life, From Hades' fearful gloom Thou brought'st the Shepherd, Christ, Who lay in mortal tomb,
That He might still provide, And tend, and guard, and keep, Where'er His flock, abides One Shepherd, of His sheep.
Glory shone within the gloom, Vacant eyes in wonder gazed; Shook the portals of the tomb, And the prisoners stood amazed.