Scripture Verse

Being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Philippians 2:8

Introduction

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Martin Luther (1483–1546)

Words: Am­brose of Mi­lan, cir­ca 397 (Ve­ni, Re­demp­tor gen­ti­um). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Ger­man by Mar­tin Lu­ther in Eyn En­chi­ri­di­on (Er­furt, Ger­ma­ny: 1524) (Nun Komm der Heid­en Hei­land). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by John Gam­bold (1711–1771). Ap­peared as num­ber 1001 in the 1808 Sup­ple­ment to the 1801 Mo­ra­vi­an Hymn Book.

Music: Vom Him­mel hoch Geist­liche Lied­er, by Val­en­tin Schu­mann (Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny: 1539). Har­mo­ny by Jo­hann S. Bach (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Erfurt Geist­liche Lied­er, 1539 (🔊 pdf nwc)
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Ambrose of Milan (340–397)

Lyrics

Rejoice, our na­ture Christ as­sumes;
Born of a vir­gin, lo, He comes,
As a Mes­si­ah fore­or­dained:
Adore and won­der, ev­ery land.

He left His bright, His glo­ri­ous throne,
He bowed the hea­vens, to earth came down;
And thus His won­drous race be­gan,
As God with God and Man with man.

Behold, a great, a hea­ven­ly light,
From Beth­le­hem’s man­ger shin­ing bright,
Around those who in dark­ness dwell,
The night of ev­il to dis­pel.

Incarnate God, as­sert Thy pow­er;
Arise, Thou glo­ri­ous Con­quer­or:
Subdue sin, death, and every foe,
Erect Thy king­dom here be­low.