You help make Hymnary.org possible. More than 10 million people from 200+ countries found hymns, liturgical resources and encouragement on Hymnary.org in 2025, including you. Every visit affirms the global impact of this ministry.

If Hymnary has been meaningful to you this year, would you take a moment today to help sustain it? A gift of any size—paired with a note of encouragement if you wish—directly supports the server costs, research work and curation that keep this resource freely available to the world.

Give securely online today, or mail a check to:
Hymnary.org
Calvin University
3201 Burton Street SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Thank you for your partnership, and may the hope of Advent fill your heart.

758. Ye watchers and ye holy ones

1 Ye watchers and ye holy ones,
bright seraphs, cherubim and thrones,
raise the glad strain, alleluia!
Cry out, dominions, princedoms, pow'rs,
virtues, archangels, angels' choirs,

Refrain:
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia,
alleluia, alleluia!

2 O higher than the cherubim,
more glorious than the seraphim,
lead their praises, alleluia.
O Mary, bearer of the Word,
most gracious, magnify the Lord: [Refrain]

3 Respond, ye souls in endless rest,
ye patriarchs and prophets blest,
alleluia! alleluia!
Ye holy twelve, ye martyrs strong,
all saints triumphant, raise the song: [Refrain]

4 O friends, in gladness let us sing,
supernal anthems echoing,
alleluia, alleluia.
To God the Father, God the Son
and God the Spirit, Three in One: [Refrain]

Text Information
First Line: Ye watchers and ye holy ones
Title: Ye watchers and ye holy ones
Author: Athelstan Riley, 1858-1945
Meter: 88 44 88 and Alleluias
Language: English
Publication Date: 2000
Scripture: ; ; ;
Topic: All Saints; Joy, Praise and Thanksgiving; Opening Hymn (10 more...)
Copyright: © Oxford University Press. Used by permission form the "English Hymnal"
Notes: Now Public Domain
Tune Information
Name: LASST UNS ERFREUEN
Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
Meter: 88 44 88 and Alleluias
Key: E♭ Major
Source: "Geistliche Kirchengesang", Cologne (1623)
Copyright: © Oxford University Press. Used by permission form the "English Hymnal"



Media
More media are available on the text authority and tune authority pages.

Suggestions or corrections? Contact us
It looks like you are using an ad-blocker. Ad revenue helps keep us running. Please consider white-listing Hymnary.org or getting Hymnary Pro to eliminate ads entirely and help support Hymnary.org.