Scripture Verse

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10–11

Introduction

portrait
Richard W. Adams
1952–

Words: From Em­ma F. Camp­bell, The Hymn Je­sus of Na­za­reth Pass­eth By—Its His­to­ry and Oth­er Vers­es (New York: M. E. Mun­son, 1909), page 23. Adapt­ed by Ri­chard W. Ad­ams, 2019 (pub­lic do­main).

Music: Tor­rance, an­on­y­mous, in The School Hym­nal (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Pres­by­te­ri­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion & Sab­bath School Work, 1900), num­ber 61 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Camp­bell (head-and-shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you ?

Lyrics

All hail, holy day!
We welcome again
With grateful rejoicing the morn
Which brought the glad news
To Judea’s plain
Of Jesus—Immanuel—born!
O wonder of wonders,
The King sent His Son!
See God in a frail, helpless child!
Omnipotent Ruler
And mankind in One,
Jehovah with man reconciled.

The angels announce
The tidings, and laud
The Deity’s wonderful birth,
Which brings hope to man,
New glory to God,
Good will, peace and joy to the earth.
And down through the ages
Still sounds the refrain,
The chorus by angels begun;
Earth echoes to Heaven
The glorious strain:
Sing praise to the incarnate Son!

See shepherds and kings
The Christ-child surround,
And to Him their offerings bring;
With faith now made sight,
They humbly bow down,
Revering their Savior and King;
Our gifts we now bring Him,
And hearts’ earnest plea,
With love’s grateful tears in our eyes,
We worship the King,
Down on love’s bended knee,
A gift He will never despise.