Scripture Verse

[Christ] took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. Philippians 2:7

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, in the Christ­mas Song Book, com­piled by Ad­olf T. Hans­er (Buf­fa­lo, New York: Dahl­ke Pub­lish­ing, 1918), num­ber 4. Note: this song book’s in­dex says the lyr­ics are a trans­la­tion by Del­la Ma­yi­ka, but we have been un­able to ident­ify this per­son, or the orig­in­al au­thor or lang­uage.

Music: Ar­range­ment of Quem Pas­tor­es, me­lo­dy in a ma­nu­script from Hoh­en­furth (now Vyš­ší Brod, Czech­ia), 1410 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

Sing, thou ho­ly, heav­en­ly na­tion,
Sing in joy and ex­ul­ta­tion!
Hear it, all ye earth born rac­es:
God’s own Son, our flesh em­brac­es!
God’s own Son, God’s own Son,
God’s own Son our flesh em­brac­es,
Our flesh em­brac­es.

Zion’s King in sore com­pass­ion,
Comes, though just, in serv­ant’s fa­shion
To us sin­ners, all trans­gress­ing,
He brings grace and heav­en­ly bless­ing.
He brings grace, He brings grace.
He brings grace and heav­en­ly bless­ing.
And heav­en­ly blessing.

See, here is our con­so­la­tion,
God has heard our sup­pli­c­ation;
As He swore in ma­ny plac­es,
God’s own Son our flesh em­brac­es,
God’s own Son, God’s own Son,
God’s own Son our flesh em­brac­es,
Our flesh em­brac­es.

See, that Child in yon­der man­ger
Frees the world from sin and dan­ger;
Our Lord Sav­ior comes from Heav­en,
Now through faith are sins for­giv­en.
Now through faith, now through faith,
Now through faith are sins for­giv­en,
Are sins for­giv­en.

Naught can pay Thee, well Thou know­est,
For the love and grace Thou show­est.
Naught but woe Thou here re­ceiv­est,
For the throne which there Thou leav­est.
For the throne, for the throne,
For the throne which there Thou leav­est,
Which there Thou leav­est.