Holiest night! happiest night!
Midnight is bright as with noon-day light;
Angels find their heaven on earth,
Hailing with hymns the marvellous birth,
The Babe, the Redeemer is near.

Stormy night! perilous night!
Winds and waves with the frail bark fight;
Over the waves walks a human form,
Human accents arrest the storm—
The Saviour, the Master is here.

Radiant night! glorious night!
Shrined in the cloud on the mountain height,
His raiment as sunshine, his face as the sun,
Prophets adoring, and glory begun—
Jesus transfigured is here!

Dreariest night! deadliest night!
Midnight falls on the noon-day light;
Night on the noon, and earthquake, and strife,
Death on the heart whence the worlds draw life—
Jesus in anguish is here!

Lingering night! vanishing night!
Watch and pray till the morn dawns bright;
Singing and shining, in vigil stand—
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand”—
Jesus the Day-star is near!