Hail to the brightness of Zion's glad morning! Joy to the lands that in darkness have lain!
Hushed be the accents of sorrow and mourning; Zion in triumph commences her reign.
Lo, in the desert rich flowers are springing, streams ever copious are gliding along;
Loud from the mountain tops echoes are ringing, wastes rise in verdure, and mingle in song.
- from a hymn by Thomas Hastings