He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end.
Luke 1:32–33
Words: From the Swedish Piae Cantiones, 1582 (Angelus emittur). The original source may have been 13th Century or earlier. Translated from Latin to English by John M. Neale, Carols for Christmas-Tide, 1853.
Music: Harmony by Thomas Helmore (🔊 pdf nwc).
Gabriel’s message does away
Satan’s curse and Satan’s sway;
This was wrought by Christmas day:
Therefore sing—Glory to the infant King!
He that comes despised shall reign;
He that cannot die, be slain;
Death by death its death shall gain:
Therefore sing—Glory to the infant King!
Like its like shall overthrow:
By a tree prevailed the foe;
From a Tree shall healing grow:
Therefore sing—Glory to the infant King!
Man was lost a garden in;
In a garden man shall win;
Woman’s faith end woman’s sin:
Therefore sing—Glory to the infant King!
Weakness shall the strong confound;
By the hands, in babe-clothes wound,
Adam’s sin shall be unbound;
Therefore sing—Glory to the infant King!
By the sword that was his own
By that sword, and that alone;
Shall Goliath be o’erthrown;
Therefore sing—Glory to the infant King!
Art by art shall be assailed;
To the cross shall Life be nailed;
From the grave shall hope be hailed;
Therefore sing—Glory to the infant King!