Scripture Verse

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

Words: John Need­ham, Hymns De­vo­tion­al and Mo­ral on Va­ri­ous Sub­jects (Bris­tol, Eng­land: S. Far­ley, 1768), num­ber 87.

Music: Al­ma Ma­ter Ri­chard Red­head (1820–1901) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Need­ham (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Richard Redhead (1820–1901)

Lyrics

Behold the Prince of Peace,
The chos­en of the Lord;
God’s best be­lov­èd Son ful­fills
The sure pro­phet­ic word.

No roy­al pomp adorns
This King of right­eous­ness;
Meekness and pa­tience, truth and love,
Compose His prince­ly dress.

The Spi­rit of the Lord,
In rich abun­dance shed,
On this great Pro­phet gent­ly lights,
And rests up­on His head.

The noi­sy breath of fame
His mo­dest ears de­cline;
Goodness in hum­ble si­lence shows
His char­acter di­vine.

His arm shall ne­ver break
The weak and bruis­èd reed;
He will sup­port its fee­ble frame
In ev­ery time of need.

The ten­der Je­sus spies
The pure, tho’ weak de­sire;
The smok­ing flax He will not quench,
But fan the ho­ly fire.

Truth shall sup­port His throne
And make its glo­ri­ous way:
The Gen­tile world shall trust His grace,
And cheer­ful hom­age pay.