Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent/Silence is a translation from the Greek 4th century Li tur gy of St. James, (Σιγησάτο παρα σὰρξ βροτεία) by Gerard Moultrie.
Its theme of worshipping the incarnate Jesus, recognising Him as God and Saviour is timeless. These words, sung with the almost chant-like intonations of the tune Picardy also give a sense of union with Christians in generations past who have expressed their wonder and praise for the incarnation with these very phrases.
The lyrics:
1.
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.
2.
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.
3.
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.
4.
At His feet the six wingèd seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!
Fernando Ortega sings a wonderfully simple rendition in this YouTube:
mgpcpastor's blog 