From St. Olaf

O day full of grace, which we behold,
Now gently to view ascending;
Thou over the earth thy reign unfold,
Good cheer to all mortals lending,
That children of light in every clime
May prove that the night is ending.

How blest was that gracious midnight hour,
When God in our flesh was given;
Then flushed the dawn with light and power,
That spread o’er the darkened heaven;
Then rose o’er the world that sun divine
Which gloom from our hearts hath driven.

Yea, were every tree endowed with speech,
And every leaflet singing,
They never with praise God’s worth could reach,
Though earth with their praise were ringing.
Who fully could praise the light of life
Who light to our souls is bringing?

With joy we depart to the promised land,
And there we shall walk in endless light.

—Danish, 14th century/Nicolai F.S. Grundtvig, 1826
tr. O.H. Smeby, G.T. Rygh, C. Doving, 1911

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