Scripture Verse

Bethlehem Ephrathah, 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

Words: John Ry­man, 1492.

Music: Fred­er­ick A. G. Ou­se­ley, Christ­mas Car­ols New and Old, Se­cond Ser­ies (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, Ew­er, 1871), num­ber 32 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Frederick Gore-Ouseley
(1825–1889)

Lyrics

illustration

In Beth­le­hem, that no­ble place,
As by the pro­phet said it was,
Of the vir­gin Ma­ry, filled with grace,
Salvator mun­di na­tus est.

Refrain

Be we mer­ry in this feast,
In quo Sal­va­tor na­tus est.

On Christ­mas night, an an­gel told
The shep­herds watch­ing by their fold,
In Beth­le­hem, full nigh the wold,
Sal­va­tor mun­di na­tus est.

Refrain

The shep­herds were en­com­passed right,
About them shone a glo­ri­ous light,
Dread ye naught, said the an­gel bright,
“Sal­va­tor mun­di na­tus est.”

Refrain

No cause have ye to be afraid,
For why? this day is Je­sus laid
On Ma­ry’s lap, that gen­tle maid:
Sal­va­tor mun­di na­tus est.

Refrain

And thus in faith find Him, ye shall,
Laid poor­ly in an ox’s stall.
The shep­herds then laud­ed God all,
Quia Sal­va­tor na­tus est.

Refrain