Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

For the eleventh text of Christmas, this blogger gives to thee…

There is an incredible mystery and power in the incarnation. The deeply theological lyrics to this carol convey a sense of the reverence and awe, like what the shepherds gave the newborn babe in Bethlehem. Christ, a person of the Trinity, ruler of heaven, creator of Earth and man, come down as an infant to bless his creation. I personally love how this carol portrays the reactions of the worshiping angels, who long to look into this mystery! (1 Peter 1:12)

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 descended,
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 heavenly 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 powers of hell may vanish,
as the darkness clears away.

At his feet the six-winged seraph,
cherubim with sleepless eye
veil their faces to his presence,
as with ceaseless voice they cry:
“Alleluia, alleluia!
Alleluia, Lord Most High!”

3 Settings

From John Michael Talbot’s magnificent Christmas album

A simple setting that congregations could sing today, from Red Mountain Music

A very, very rich setting from Choir of King’s College