Lo, at Noon ’Tis Sudden Night

Lo

at noon ’tis sud­den night.

Darkness co­vers all the sky!

Rocks are rend­ing at the sight!

Children

can you tell me why?

What can all these won­ders be?

Jesus dies on Cal­va­ry.

Stretched up­on the cross

be­hold

How His ten­der limbs are torn!

For a roy­al crown of gold

They have made Him one of thorn!

Cruel hands

that dare to bind

Thorns up­on a brow so kind.

See! the blood is fall­ing fast

From His fore­head and His side!

Listen! He has breathed His last!

With a migh­ty groan He died!

Children

can you tell me why

Jesus con­des­cends to die?

He

who was a king ab­ove

Left His king­dom for a grave

Out of pi­ty and of love

That the guil­ty He might save:

Down to this sad world He flew

For such lit­tle ones as you.

You were wretch­ed

weak

and vile;

You de­served His ho­ly frown;

But He saw you with a smile

And

to save you

hast­ened down:

Listen

child­ren

this is why

Jesus con­des­cends to die.

Come

then

child­ren

come and see!

Lift your lit­tle hands to pray;

Blessèd Je­sus

par­don me

Help a guil­ty in­fant

say;

Since it was for such as I

Thou didst con­des­cend to die.