Whence appears this brilliant star
In the eastern skies afar?
Never hath a ray so bright
Pierced the gloomy shades of night.

See! the glo­ry of its beams
With celestial radiance streams
Towards Judea’s holy land,
Guiding there a faithful band.

There, a lowly infant made,
There, in Bethlehem’s manger laid,
Christ, the Prince of Life, they find—
Christ, the Sav­ior of mankind.

Ye who slight Emmanuel’s grace,
Who in Him no beauty trace,
Here His love for sinners see,
In His deep humility.

Rise and shine, bright morning star!
Spread thy heavenly light afar,
Till each heart illumined be,
With the radiance shed by thee.