Break Forth, Break Forth, In Joyful Song
For Christmas
Words: Miss Esther Wiglesworth
Music: Unknown
Meter: 86 86 86 86
Source: Edgar Pettman, ed., Modern Christmas Carols (London: Weekes & Co., 1892), #36.
Shout for joy to
the LORD, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music.
Psalm 98:4
Burst into songs
of joy together,
you ruins of Jerusalem,
Isaiah 52:9
1. Break forth, break forth, in
joyful song,
O Bethlehem rejoice!
Ephratah, in thy fruitful
field
Is heard an Angel-song's voice,
“Good news! Good
news !” Today is born
In Judah's royal land,
The Woman's
Seed, the Long desired,
The Son of God's right hand.
2. “Rejoice! Rejoice! Today
is shown
The Father's love to men,
And Peace is, through the
Prince of Peace,
Won for the earth again.”
“His
name is Wonderful.” The choirs
Of Heaven adoring sing;
“All
glory to the Mighty God,
All glory to our King.”
3. “All glory be to God on
high,”
Is echoed back from earth;
As year by year with
songs of joy,
We hail the Infant's birth.
For His dear sake our
brother's need
Is bounteously supplied;
and o'er men's feuds
the “Truce of God”
Breathes peace at Christmastide.
4. Yet 'mid our Hallelujahs
sweet
Is heard a minor strain;
We wait for our redemption
Lord,
O! Come and o'er us reign!
O.
bid all toilsome labour
cease,
Confirm Thy Peace erst given,
Let the New earth be
evermore,
The outer Court of Heaven.
Sheet Music from Edgar Pettman, ed., Modern Christmas Carols (London: Weekes & Co., 1892), #36:
Note from Pettman: No. XXXVI.—To be sung, as directed, with great vigour and firmness.
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