How Lovely Shines the Morning Star!

An exquisite cantata by the master....Bach!

How lovely shines the Morning Star!

The nations see and hail afar

The light in Judah shining.

Thou David's son of Jacob's race,

My bridegroom and my King of grace,

For thee my heart is pining.

Lowly, holy

Great and glorious,

Thou victorious

Prince of graces,

Filling all the heav'nly places.

Now richly to my waiting heart,

O thou, my God, deign to Impart

The grace of love undying.

In thy blest body let me be,

E'en as the branch is in the tree,

Thy life my life supplying.

Sighing, crying,

For the savor

Of thy favor;

Resting never

Till I rest in thee forever.

Thou, mighty Father, in thy Son

Didst love me ere thou hadst begun

This ancient world's foundation.

Thy Son hath made a friend of me,

And when in spirit him I see,

I joy in tribulation.

What bliss is this!

He that liveth

To me giveth

Life forever,

Nothing me from him can sever.

Philipp Nicolai (1556-1608)