Scripture Verse

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born king of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. Matthew 2:1–2

Introduction

Words: Ma­ri­an Froe­lich, 1885.

Music: Asa Hull (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Froe­lich (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), or a bet­ter one of Hull,

portrait
Asa Hull (1828–1907)

Lyrics

O kings from east­ern shore,
Why speed ye on your way?
What have ye gained of lore,
Ye rest not night nor day?
The heav’n­ly sign have we
Read o’er with ea­ger eye,
And writ­ten there we see
The King of kings is nigh!

Refrain

Kings of the Ori­ent, hi­ther ye come!
Out of the dark­some East, is that your home?
Tidings most won­der­ful to us ye bring!
Welcome, wel­come, wel­come we sing!

The trap­pings of your steeds,
The splen­dor of your state,
The star that on­ward leads,
Tell of a pur­pose great!
Je­ho­vah gave a sign,
And us with wis­dom blessed,
And while yon light shall shine,
Our jour­ney’s t’ward the west!

Refrain

Why bear ye in your hands,
Yon gold and spice and gem?
Why haste from dist­ant lands,
T’ward lit­tle Beth­le­hem?
The mys­tic scroll pro­claims
The Star as Ju­dah’s own,
And Da­vid’s ci­ty names,
Where He shall set His throne!

Refrain