Advent Song

EARTH was waiting, spent and restless,

 with a mingled hope and fear;

 and the faithful few were sighing,

 ‘Surely, Lord, the day is near;

 the Desire of all the nations,

 it is time He should appear.’

2 In the sacred courts of Zion,

 where the Lord had His abode,

 there the money-changers trafficked,

 and the sheep and oxen trod;

 and the world, because of wisdom,

 knew not either Lord or God.

3 Then the Spirit of the Highest

 on a virgin meek came down,

 and He burdened her with blessing,

 and He pained her with renown;

 for she bore the Lord’s Anointed,

 for His cross and for His crown.

4 Earth for Him had groaned and travailed

 since the ages first began;

 for in Him was hid the secret

 that through all the ages ran –

 Son of Mary, Son of David,

 Son of God, and Son of Man.

                                        -Walter Chalmers Smith, 1824-1908

Tune # 203