All My Heart This Night Rejoices!

Correggio

Listen to this beautiful carol here.

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

Ev'rywhere

Now with joy is ringing.

Forth today the Conqueror goeth,

Who the foe,

Sin and woe,

Death and hell, o'erthroweth.

God is man, man to deliver;

His dear Son

Now is one

With our blood forever.

Shall we still dread God's displeasure,

Who, to save,

Freely gave

His most cherished Treasure?

To redeem us, he hath given

His own Son

From the throne

Of his might in heaven.

He becomes the Lamb that taketh

Sin away

And for aye

For our life his own he tenders;

And our race,

By his grace,

Meet for glory renders.

Hark! A voice from yonder manger,

Soft and sweet,

Doth entreat:

"Flee from woe and danger.

Brethren, from all ills that grieve you,

You are freed;

All you need

I will surely give you.

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.

Dearest Lord, thee will I cherish.

Though my breath

Fail in death,

Yet I shall not perish,

But with thee abide forever

There on high,

In that joy

Which can vanish never.

Paul Gerhardt (1607-1676)

Translated by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878)