Antiphon

    Daylight fades away.
        Is the Lord at hand
    In the shadows gray
        Stealing on the land?

        Gently from the east
            Come the shadows gray;
        But our lowly priest
            Nearer is than they.

    It is darkness quite.
        Is the Lord at hand,
    In the cloak of night
        Stolen upon the land?

        But I see no night,
            For my Lord is here
        With him dark is light,
            With him far is near.

    List! the cock's awake.
        Is the Lord at hand?
    Cometh he to make
        Light in all the land?

        Long ago he made
            Morning in my heart;
        Long ago he bade
            Shadowy things depart.

    Lo, the dawning hill!
        Is the Lord at hand,
    Come to scatter ill,
        Ruling in the land?

        He hath scattered ill,
            Ruling in my mind;
        Growing to his will,
            Freedom comes, I find.

    We will watch all day,
        Lest the Lord should come;
    All night waking stay
        In the darkness dumb.

        I will work all day,
            For the Lord hath come;
        Down my head will lay
            All night, glad and dumb.

    For we know not when
        Christ may be at hand;
    But we know that then
        Joy is in the land.

        For I know that where
            Christ hath come again,
        Quietness without care
            Dwelleth in his men.