Classic Christian Hymns · Public-domain text

Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

Liturgy of St. James; trans. Gerard Moultrie

The Liturgy of Saint James is one of the oldest surviving Christian liturgies in existence, dating back to 4th-century Jerusalem. It was historically attributed to James the Just, the brother of Jesus and leader of the early church in Jerusalem. The text of the advent hymn 'Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence' is taken directly from this ancient liturgy, serving as a powerful reminder of the early church's profound reverence, awe, and silence before the majesty of Christ. For over sixteen centuries, this liturgy has connected believers across generations in awe of the incarnation.

Source: Hymns of the Eastern Church

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 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 the Presence
As with ceaseless voice they cry
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High
The Day of Resurrection