Scripture Verse

The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

Introduction

Words: John H. An­ke­tell, Gos­pel and Epis­tle Hymns for the Chris­tian Year (New York: Church Re­cord Com­pa­ny, 1889), num­ber 5.

Music: St. Co­lum­ba an­cient Ir­ish tune (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of An­ke­tell (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

O joy of earth! A Sav­ior’s birth
To fallen man is granted;
The song of love is sung above,
And shepherds hear it chanted.

Their wakeful eyes with glad surprise
See white-robed angels shining;
The ravished ear a song can hear,
All melody combining:

Be glo­ry given in highest Hea­ven,
To God through years unending;
On earth may peace and love increase
God will to men descending.

In haste they seek that Infant meek,
Whose cradle is a manger,
And at His feet with homage meet
They hail the Hea­ven-born stranger.

And we with them in Bethlehem
Will seek the Lord of glo­ry,
Will sing His praise through endless days
And tell His wondrous story.

Sweet Babe, so frail! The thorn, the nail
Shall cause Thee bitter sorrow;
But soon Thy night shall end in light,
And bring an East­er morrow.

Thy star divine shall ever shine
To guide the pilgrim stranger;
While faith shall own Thy love alone,
And worship at Thy manger!