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FIRST OF CITIES, BETHLEHEM

Scripture Verse

Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto Me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. Micah 5:2

Introduction

portrait
National Portrait Gallery

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Words: Au­re­li­us Pru­den­ti­us, 5th Cen­tu­ry (O So­la Mag­na­rum Ur­bi­um), cen­to. Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Ri­chard Mant, An­cient Hymns from the Ro­man Bre­vi­ary (Lon­don: J. G. & F. Riv­ing­ton, 1837), num­ber 34.

Music: In­no­cents The Par­ish Choir, 1850. Har­mo­ny by Will­iam H. Monk, 1861 (🔊 ).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
Richard Mant (1776–1848)

Lyrics

First of ci­ties, Beth­le­hem,
Hail, most fa­vored! When He came,
Savior of the hu­man race,
Thee the God­head deigned to grace.

Brighter than the sun’s bright car,
And more glo­ri­ous was the star,
Which in Thee new-born from high
Told the in­car­nate De­ity.

Him what time the Ma­gi­ans saw,
Forth their ori­ent gifts they draw;
Prostrate they with vows un­fold
Myrrh, and frank­in­cense, and gold.

Frankincense and gold they bring,
To an­nounce their God and king;
Spice of aro­ma­tic myrrh,
To an­nounce His se­pul­cher.

Jesus, let Thy name be blest,
To the Gen­tiles ma­ni­fest;
To the Fa­ther glo­ry be,
With the Spir­it, and with Thee!