The People That in Darkness Sat

361 The People That in Darkness Sat

1 The people that in darkness sat
   A glorious light have seen;
   The light has shined on them who long
   In shades of death have been.

2 For unto us a Child is born,
   To us a Son is given,
   And on His shoulder ever rests
   All power in earth and heaven.

3 is name shall be the Prince of Peace,
   Forevermore adored,
   The Wonderful, the Counselor.
   The great and mighty Lord.

4 His righteous government and power
   Shall over all extend;
   On judgment and on justice based,
   His reign shall have no end.
                         John Morison
                         The Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
For a hymn only occurring in around 200 hymnals, this one sure has a lot of variations. I couldn't find a single one that aligned with this hymnal. There are also a bunch more verses:

2 To hail Thee, Sun of Righteousness,
   The gath'ring nations come;
   They joy as when the reapers bear
   Their harvest treasures home.

3 For Thou their burden dost remove
   And break the tyrant's rod
   As in the day when Midian fell
   Before the sword of God.

7 Lord Jesus, reign in us, we pray,
   And make us Thine alone,
   Who with the Father ever art
   And Holy Spirit, one.

</idle musing>