Written by German pastor Johann Gerhardt in 1653 and translated into English in 1858 by Catherine Winkworth, “All My Heart This Night Rejoices” explores the great value of the incarnation. Most poignantly, “He becomes the Lamb that taken sin away and for aye full atonement maketh.”
All my heart this night rejoices
as I hear
far and near
sweetest angel voices.
“Christ is born,” their choirs are singing
till the air
ev’rywhere
now with joy is ringing.Forth today the Conqu’ror goeth,
who the foe,
sin and woe,
death and hell, o’erthroweth.
God is man, man to deliver;
His dear Son
now is one
with our blood forever.Shall we still dread God’s displeasure,
who, to save,
freely gave
His most cherished Treasure?
To redeem us, He hath given
His own Son
from the throne
of His might in heaven.He becomes the Lamb that taketh
sin away
and for aye
full atonement maketh.
For our life His own He tenders;
and our race,
by His grace,
fit for glory renders.Hark! a voice from yonder manger,
soft and sweet,
doth entreat,
“Flee from woe and danger;
brethren, from all ills that grieve you
you are freed;
all you need
I will surely give you.”Come, then, banish all your sadness,
one and all,
great and small;
come with songs of gladness.
Love Him who with love is glowing;
hail the star,
near and far
light and joy bestowing.Dearest Lord, Thee will I cherish.
Though my breath
fail in death,
yet I shall not perish,
but with Thee abide forever
there on high,
in that joy
which can vanish never.
About Scott Aniol
Scott Aniol is the founder and Executive Director of Religious Affections Ministries. He is director of doctoral worship studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he teaches courses in ministry, worship, hymnology, aesthetics, culture, and philosophy. He is the author of Worship in Song: A Biblical Approach to Music and Worship, Sound Worship: A Guide to Making Musical Choices in a Noisy World, and By the Waters of Babylon: Worship in a Post-Christian Culture, and speaks around the country in churches and conferences. He is an elder in his church in Fort Worth, TX where he resides with his wife and four children. Views posted here are his own and not necessarily those of his employer.
