Scripture Verse

Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14

Introduction

portrait
Caspar Neumann (1648–1715)

Words: Cas­par Neu­mann (1648–1715) (Gott­es und Ma­rien Sohn). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to English by Mi­lo Ma­han (1819–1870).

Music: Je­su, meine Zu­ver­sicht Jo­hann Crü­ger (1598–1662). Adapt­ed by Jo­hann S. Bach (1685–1750) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know when this hymn was writ­ten or trans­lat­ed,

portrait
Johann Crüger
(1598–1662)

Lyrics

Welcome God’s and Ma­ry’s Son
Jesu, who to earth des­cend­ing,
Didst our na­ture with Thine own
Join in un­ion ne­ver end­ing:
Save us from th’op­press­or’s rod,
Oh our bro­ther and our God!

All was lost in Ad­am’s fall;
All in Thee is now re­co­vered.
Once to sin and death a thrall,
O’er the pit of hell I ho­vered:
Now I learn to cling to Thee—
Once with Ad­am, one with me.

Out of Heav’n didst Thou come down;
Out of hell my soul de­li­ver.
Scarce a stall in David’s town,
Welcomed Thee; but, gra­cious Giv­er,
Grant to us be­yond the sky,
Each a star­ry home on high.

Cleaves my soul to dross and dust;
Help me, Lord, I sink and per­ish;
Purge my heart of earth­ly lust,
Life di­vine with­in me cher­ish;
Dweller in the man­ger, Thou,
Dwell Thy­self with­in me now.

Scant and mean the swad­dling clothes,
Limbs di­vine, like Thine, to co­ver!
Be the sin my spir­it loathes
Bound in them and co­vered over:
But my­self be clothed in Thee,
Jesu, by Thy Spir­it free.

Ah! the pain that came to Thee,
In the hard and nar­row man­ger!
May my spir­it cra­dled be
In Thy heart, se­cure from dan­ger,
When my wea­ry head is hid
Underneath the cof­fin lid.

Is it still the de­vil’s lust
Souls of men in sin to smo­ther?
Yet in this I put my trust—
God be­came my friend and bro­ther!
Heart and mind in Thee to dwell,
Help me, mine Im­ma­nu­el!