Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.
Isaiah 9:6
Words: Thomas B. Murray, Lays of Christmas (London: Francis & John Rivington, 1847), number 2.
Music: Eden (Feilden) Oswald M. Feilden, in Psalms and Hymns, enlarged edition, by William W. How & Thomas Baker Morrell, 1863 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Alternate Tunes:
If you know where to get a good picture of Murray (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels), or a better one of Feilden,
Good news, this happy morn,
Glad tidings come from Heav’n!
To us a child is born,
To us a son is giv’n.
What prince of high renown
Doth Zion’s praise employ?
Who brings the angels down
To sing their song of joy?
The Humble and the Meek;
Of Him the angels sing;
To Him shall Zion seek,
For He is Zion’s king.
He comes, th’incarnate Word;
He comes, the Prince of Peace;
The everlasting Lord,
Whose kingdom shall increase.
He quits His throne above,
Upon this earth to dwell;
Such lowliness and love
No human tongue can tell.
What prophets had foretold
And kings desired to see,
We with our eyes behold—
The Lord’s nativity.
In Bethl’hem’s mean abode
His sufferings began,
When Christ, the Son of God,
Became the Son of Man.
O Lord, Thine arm reveal,
That ere our course is run,
We all may know and feel
What Thou for man hast done.