Of the Father's heart begotten Ere the world from chaos rose

Verse 1

Of the Father's heart begotten ere the world from chaos rose, he is Alpha: from that Fountain, all that is and hath been flows; he is Omega, of all things yet to come the mystic Close, evermore and evermore.

Verse 2

By his word was all created; he commanded and 'twas done; earth and sky and boundless ocean, universe of three in one, all that sees the moon's soft radiance, all that breathes beneath the sun, evermore and evermore.

Verse 3

He assumed this mortal body, frail and feeble, doomed to die, that the race from dust created might not perish utterly, which the dreadful Law had sentenced in the depths of hell to lie, evermore and evermore.

Verse 4

O how blest that wondrous birthday, when the Maid the curse retrieved, brought to birth mankind's salvation, by the Holy Ghost conceived, and the Babe, the world's Redeemer, in her loving arms received, evermore and evermore.

Verse 5

This is he, whom seer and sybil sang in ages long gone by; this is he of old revealèd in the page of prophecy; lo! he comes, the promised Saviour; let the world his praises cry! evermore and evermore.

Verse 6

Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises; Angels and Archangels, sing! wheresoe'er ye be, ye faithful, let your joyous anthems ring, every tongue his name confessing, countless voices answering, evermore and evermore.