Translation by Gerald (or Gerard) Moultrie (1829 - 1885)
Let all mortal flesh keep silence
Language: English after the Greek (Ελληνικά)
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. Amen.
About the headline (FAQ)
First published in Orby Shipley's Lyra Eucharistica, 1864Text Authorship:
- by Gerald (or Gerard) Moultrie (1829 - 1885), "Prayer of the Cherubic Hymn" [author's text checked 1 time against a primary source]
Based on:
- a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Bible or other Sacred Texts , said to have been written by Saint James, son of Alphaeus, often identified as James the Less or James the Just [text unavailable]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934), "Let all mortal flesh keep silence", op. 36a no. 1 (1916), published 1919 [mixed chorus and orchestra], from Three Festival Choruses, no. 1 [ sung text checked 1 time]
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in English, a translation by Anonymous/Unidentified Artist ; composed by Sir Edward Cuthbert Bairstow.
Researcher for this text: Emily Ezust [Administrator]
This text was added to the website: 2009-10-03
Line count: 25
Word count: 137