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IN BETHLEHEM, THAT NOBLE PLACE

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 (🔊 ).

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