Scripture Verse

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called wonderful, counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

portrait
Michael Praetorius (1571–1621)

Words: Au­thor un­known, in a 15th Cen­tu­ry ma­nu­script from Tri­er, Ger­ma­ny (Pu­er no­bis nas­ci­tur). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by John Ful­ton.

Music: Ful­ton (Prae­to-ri­us), from Pu­er No­bis Nas­ci­tur, Tri­er ma­nu­script, 15th Cen­tu­ry, adapt­ed by Mi­chael Prae­to-ri­us, 1609 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

Lyrics

Unto us a child is born,
Christians, hear the sto­ry;
In this world our flesh is worn,
By Christ, the Lord of glo­ry.

In a man­ger He is laid,
Where the kine are sleep­ing;
Angels re­cog­nize their Lord,
And o’er Him watch are keep­ing.

Haughty Her­od trem­bles now,
Great his fear and sor­row;
Bethl’em’s in­fants he will slay
Before the dawn to­mor­row.

Jesu, born of vir­gin maid,
In Thy vi­si­ta­tion
Show Thy mer­cy, Lord, on us,
And grant us Thy sal­va­tion.

Alpha and Ome­ga, Thine
Be this day our cho­rus;
King of kings, and Lord of lords,
Now let Thy grace be o’er us.