Scripture Verse

Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? Matthew 2:1–2

Introduction

portrait
John H. Hopkins, Jr.
(1820–1891)

Words & Mu­sic: John H. Hop­kins, Jr., 1857 (🔊 pdf nwc). Hop­kins wrote this car­ol for a Christ­mas pa­geant at the Ge­ne­ral Theo­lo­gic­al Se­mi­na­ry in New York Ci­ty. Ap­peared in his Car­ols, Hymns and Songs (New York: Church Book De­po­si­to­ry, 1863), pages 12–13, ti­tled Three Kings of Ori­ent.

Lyrics

illustration
Journey of the Magi
James Tissot (1836–1902)

We three kings of Or­ient are;
Bearing gifts we tra­verse afar,
Field and fount­ain, moor and mount­ain,
Following yon­der star.

Refrain

O star of won­der, star of light,
Star with roy­al beau­ty bright,
Westward lead­ing, still pro­ceed­ing,
Guide us to thy per­fect light.

Born a king on Beth­le­hem’s plain
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King for­ev­er, ceas­ing ne­ver,
Over us all to reign.

Refrain

Frankincense to of­fer have I;
Incense owns a de­ity nigh;
Prayer and prais­ing, voic­es rais­ing,
Worshiping God on high.

Refrain

Myrrh is mine, its bit­ter per­fume
Breathes a life of ga­ther­ing gloom;
Sorrowing, sigh­ing, bleed­ing, dy­ing,
Sealed in the stone cold tomb.

Refrain

Glorious now beh­old Him arise;
King and God and sac­ri­fice;
Alleluia, Al­le­lu­ia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

Refrain