Scripture Verse

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. Matthew 2:1–2

Introduction

Words: Frank­lin E. Bel­den, in Pear­ly Por­tals, ed­it­ed by Da­vid S. Hakes (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: G. D. Rus­sell, 1882), num­ber 134.

Music: Da­vid S. Hakes (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Franklin E. Belden
(1858–1945)
Courtesy of
Ellen G. White Estate

Lyrics

illustration
Journey of the Magi
James Tissot (1836–1902)

Afar from the East the wise men came,
To seek the in­fant King;
To hon­or the Sav­ior of man­kind,
And grate­ful of­fer­ings bring.
Across the plains of Pa­les­tine,
Directed by the star,
They came to bless and wor­ship Him,
Three wise men from afar.

Refrain

Afar in the East the news is heard
Of Christ, a Sav­ior, born;
And o’er the world the glo­ry breaks
Of glad re­demp­tion’s morn.

Beyond where the migh­ty ri­vers flow,
In Per­sian land they were;
They knew of the time He should ap­pear,
And bring Him gifts of myrrh.
With joy they hail the wel­come rays,
Which kind­ly guid­ed them;
And lo! the star that went be­fore
Stood ov­er Beth­le­hem.

Refrain

They found Him in lowly man­ger laid,
Tho’ he was roy­al, fair;
There ne­ver was prince so mean­ly clad,
Yet an­gels bright were there.
And then abroad the tid­ings flew,
O’er land and ov­er sea,
And all man­kind have heard the news
Salvation, full and free.

Refrain