1 Star of the east! whose beacon light
A gleam on Bethlehem threw,
And thither by that wondrous sight
Arabia’s sages drew,
Arabia’s sages drew;
On thee in thought we love to gaze
In western climes afar,
And think on thy mysterious rays,
Thou lovely eastern star.

2 Fair is the star of eve that sheds
Her light betokening rest;
And fair the morning star that leads
The day in glory dressed,
The day in glory dressed;
But still more fair thy form arose,
And lovelier to behold,
Which of a more serene repose
A brighter glory told.

3 Hail thou, whose silvery radiance led
Those Magian chiefs to bring
Their choicest gifts, in worship spread
Before Judea’s king,
Before Judea’s king;
That glorious Sun, whose harbinger
Thy light was made to shine,
And like the pillared flame to bear
Aloft salvation’s sign!

4 Hail thou appointed to adorn
The rising King of Heav’n,
The promised Child to Judah born,
The Son to Israel giv’n,
The Son to Israel giv’n;
In whom the peaceful empire sealed
Should more and more increase;
In Him, the mighty God revealed,
In Him, the Prince of Peace!

5 So on thy beacon light we gaze
In western climes afar,
And note thy Heav’n directed rays,
Thou lovely eastern star,
Thou lovely eastern star;
With praise to Him, who in the sky
Thy wondrous cresset hung,
Prompt to inform the’observing eye,
Apart from speech or tongue.

6 Him who permits to all to see
The light their stations need;
Who chose the star versèd sage by thee,
Star of the east, to lead,
Star of the east, to lead;
Who made by shepherd swains at night
The angel’s voice be heard;
And gives to us His Scriptures’ light,
His own recording word.