Let all mortal flesh keep silence,

and with fear and trembling stand;

ponder nothing earthly-minded,

for with blessing in His hand

Christ our God to earth descendeth,

our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,

as of old on earth he stood,

Lord of lords, in human vesture,

in the body and the blood,

he will give to all the faithful

his own self for heav'nly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven

spreads its vanguard on the way;

as the Light of light descendeth

from the realms of endless day,

that the pow'rs of hell may vanish,

as the darkness clears away

At his feet the six-winged seraph,

cherubim, with sleepless eye,

veil their faces to the presence,

as with ceaseless voice they cry:

"Alleluia, Alleluia

Alleluia, Lord most high!"