Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.
Luke 2:15
Words: Paul Gerhardt, in Johann Ebeling’s edition of his Geistliche Andachten Fünfte Dutzet, 1667 (Kommt, und lasst uns Christum ehren). Composite translation from German to English.
Music: Quem Pastores melody in a manuscript from Hohenfurth (now Vyšší Brod, Czechia), 1410 (🔊 pdf nwc).
Come, your hearts and voices raising,
Christ the Lord with gladness praising;
Loudly sing His love amazing,
Worthy folk of Christendom.
Sin and death may well be groaning,
Satan now may well be moaning;
We, our full salvation owning,
Cast our every care away.
See how God, for us providing,
Gave His Son and life abiding;
He our weary steps is guiding
From earth’s woes to heav’nly joy.
Christ, from Heaven to us descending
And in love our race befriending,
In our need His help extending,
Saved us from the wily foe.
Jacob’s Star in all its splendor
Beams with comfort sweet and tender,
Forcing Satan to surrender,
Breaking all the powers of hell.
From the bondage that oppressed us,
From sin’s fetters that possessed us,
From the grief that sore distressed us,
We, the captives, now are free.
Oh, the joy beyond expressing
When by faith we grasp this blessing
And to Thee we come confessing
That our freedom Thou hast wrought!
Gracious Child, we pray Thee, hear us,
From Thy lowly manger cheer us,
Gently lead us and be near us
Till we join th’angelic choir.