Scripture Verse

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

illustration
Adoration of the Shepherds
Guido Reni (1575–1642)

Words: Chris­to­pher Words­worth, The Ho­ly Year (Lon­don: Riv­ing­tons, 1862), num­ber 8. In the 1863 edi­tion, a dox­ol­ogy was add­ed, and the hymn was di­vid­ed in­to two parts, Pt. ii be­ing, God comes down that man may rise.

Music: Eng­land’s Lane tra­di­tion­al Eng­lish tune. Ar­ranged by Geoff­rey T. Shaw, 1919 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

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

portrait
Christopher Wordsworth
(1807–1885)

Lyrics

Sing, O sing, this bless­èd morn,
Unto us a child is born,
Unto us a son is giv’n,
God Him­self comes down from Heav’n.

Refrain

Sing, O sing, this bless­èd morn,
Jesus Christ to­day is born.

Jesus Christ, the King of kings,
Maker of all world­ly things,
Now des­cends from Heav’n to earth,
To re­store us by His birth.

Refrain

God of God, and Light of Light,
Come with mer­cies in­fi­nite,
Joining in a wond­rous plan
Heav’n to earth and God to man.

Refrain

God with us, Em­ma­nu­el,
Deigns for ev­er now to dwell;
And on Ad­am’s fall­en race
Sheds the full­ness of His grace.

Refrain

Truth and mer­cy show their face,
And with lov­ing kiss em­brace;
Righteousness looks down from Heav’n,
God is pleased, and man for­giv’n;

Refrain

God comes down that man may rise,
Lifted by Him to the skies;
He is Son of Man that we
By Him sons of God may be.

Refrain

Human flesh is now be­come
Christ’s abode, the God­head’s home;
Royal pal­ace, sac­red shrine
For the Ma­jes­ty Di­vine.

Refrain

Now we rise, from pri­son free;
Now we march to vic­to­ry,
Flags of tri­umph are un­furled;
’Tis the birth­day of the world:

Refrain

Now be­hold the ris­ing sun
Has his glo­ri­ous race begun;
Now the Bride­groom from above
Weds the bride, with heav’n­ly love;

Refrain

O re­new us, Lord, we pray,
With Thy Spir­it day by day,
That we ev­er one may be
With the Fa­ther and with Thee.

Refrain

Glory to the Fa­ther give,
And to the Son in whom we live;
Glory to the Spir­it be,
Godhead one, and Per­sons three.

Refrain