Scripture Verse

The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2

Introduction

portrait
Martin Luther (1483–1546)

Words: La­tin, 11th Cen­tu­ry (Gra­tes nunc om­nes). Ex­pand­ed and trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Ger­man by Mar­tin Lu­ther, 1523 (Ge­lob­et seist du, Je­su Christ). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Charles Kin­chen, cir­ca 1742.

Music: Ware­ham Will­iam Knapp, 1738 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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William Knapp (1698–1768)

Lyrics

Lord Je­sus Christ, all praise to Thee,
That Thou wast pleased a man to be;
Our low es­tate Thou didst not scorn;
And an­gels sang to see Thee born.

The hea­ven­ly Fa­ther’s on­ly Son,
He left His right­ful glo­ri­ous throne;
The Lord through whom the worlds were made
Is in the hum­ble man­ger laid.

The bright­ness of the light di­vine
Doth now into our dark­ness shine;
It breaks up­on sin’s gloo­my night
And makes us child­ren of the light.

The Fat­her’s Son, for ev­er blest,
Becomes in His own world a guest,
To lead us from this vale of strife
Into the ev­er­last­ing life.