Scripture Verse

He took Peter and John and James, and went up into a mountain to pray. And as He prayed, the fashion of His countenance was altered, and His raiment was white and glistening. Luke 9:28–29

Introduction

Words: Da­vid H. Ela, 1877.

Music: Board­man, var­ious­ly at­trib­ut­ed to Charles Jef­freys (ar­ranged by Charles King­sley), or to L. De­ve­reux (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know the com­pos­er, or where to get a good pic­ture of him or Ela,

Lyrics

The chos­en three, on mount­ain height,
While Je­sus bowed in pray­er,
Beheld His ves­ture glow with light,
His face shine won­drous fair.

And lo! with the trans­fig­ured Lord,
Leader and seer they saw;
With Car­mel’s hoa­ry pro­phet stood
The giv­er of the law.

From the low bend­ing cloud above,
Whence ra­di­ant bright­ness shone,
Spake out the Fa­ther’s voice of love,
Hear My be­lov­èd Son!

Lord, lead us to the mount­ain height;
To prayer’s trans­fig­ur­ing glow;
And clothe us with the Spir­it’s might
For grand­er work be­low.

illustration
Transfiguration of Christ
Raphael (1483–1520)