Night has closed the gates,
Fades away the twi­light,
While all na­ture waits,
Watching for the morn,
When the Christ was born,
Christ the Star of day­light.

Olden pro­phets spake
Many a word of warn­ing;
From your slum­bers wake!
Lo! the heav’ns are riv’n,
For sure a Son is giv’n!
Given with the dawn­ing.

Psalmists sang their song,
Song of lov­ing kind­ness,
Of the pro­mise long,
Sure, with mer­cy dight,
Sure in giv­ing light;
Light unto man’s blind­ness.

Christ, the Light has come,
Christ, true mer­cy bring­ing,
Earth is Hea­ven’s home,
Earth, where an­gels’ cry,
Praise to God on high,
Through the night is ring­ing.

Jesu, Ma­ry’s son!
Born for ev­ery na­tion,
By the grace Thou’st won,
Shed from Hea­ven’s height,
Mercy, truth and light,
In the end, sal­va­tion.