Scripture Verse

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isaiah 52:7

Introduction

portrait
Susanna V. Aldrich
1828–1905

Words: Su­san­na V. Ald­rich, 1883.

Music: Heath­row Pe­ter P. Bil­horn, 1886 (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of Ald­rich,

portrait
Peter P. Bilhorn (1865–1936)

Lyrics

How fair upon the moun­tains
The hast­ing feet which bring
Today the glo­ri­ous tid­ings
Which o’er the earth shall ring.

He reigns, our bless­èd Sav­ior,
He reigns, the King of Peace!
Today His hea­ven­ly mis­sion
Begins and ne’er shall cease.

What though a new­born in­fant
He smiles on Ma­ry’s breast?
He comes to free the peo­ple
With sin and woe op­pressed.

He comes to break the fe­tters
Which bind the toi­ling slave
And bid from ev­ery hill­top
The flag of free­dom wave.

Break forth, ye lof­ty moun­tains,
And ye, O lit­tle hills,
Pour out your deep­est music,
And min­gle, tink­ling rills.

Let ev­ery voice in na­ture
Unite to swell the strain:
Today our bless­èd lead­er,
The Prince of Peace doth reign.