1
Lo, God to heaven ascendeth!
Throughout its regions vast
With shouts triumphant blendeth
The trumpet’s thrilling blast;
Sing praise to Christ the Lord;
Sing praise with exultation,
Great King of every nation,
The God of hosts adored.
2
With joy is heaven resounding,
Christ’s glad return to see;
Behold the saints surrounding
The Lord, who set them free;
Bright myriads thronging come,
The cherub band rejoices,
And loud seraphic voices
Their sovereign welcome home.
3
No more the way is hidden,
Since Christ our head arose:
No more to man forbidden
The road that heavenward goes.
Our Lord is gone before,
Yet here He will not leave us,
But soon in heaven receive us;
He opens wide the door.
4
May we, His servants, thither
In heart and mind ascend;
And let us sing together;
We seek Thee, Christ our friend;
Thee, God’s exalted Son,
Our life, our way to heaven,
To whom all power is given,
Our joy, our hope, our crown.
5
O when shall come the dawning
Of that appointed hour,
Of that all-glorious morning
When Christ shall come with power?
O quickly come, we pray,
That we, dear Lord, may meet Thee,
With loving fervour greet Thee,
And hail the eternal day.