Scripture Verse

[Herod] killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in that region who were two years old or under. Matthew 2:16

Introduction

Words: Lau­rence Hous­man, 1906.

Music: St. Sav­iour (Bak­er) Fred­er­ick G. Bak­er, in the Bris­tol Tune Book, Se­cond Se­ries (Lon­don: No­vel­lo, Ew­er, 1876) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Rodmell tra­di­tion­al tune, in The Eng­lish Hym­nal (Lon­don: Ox­ford Uni­ver­si­ty Press, 1906), num­ber 611 (🔊 pdf nwc)

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

portrait
Laurence Housman (1865–1959)

Lyrics

When Christ was born in Beth­le­hem,
Fair peace on earth to bring,
In low­ly state of love He came
To be the child­ren’s king.

And round Him, then, a ho­ly band
Of child­ren blest was born,
Fair guard­ians of His throne to stand
Attendant night and morn.

And un­to them this grace was giv’n
A Sav­ior’s name to own,
And die for Him who out of Heav’n
Had found on earth a throne.

O bless­èd babes of Beth­le­hem,
Who died to save our king,
Ye share the mar­tyrs’ di­adem,
And in their an­them sing!

Your lips, on earth that ne­ver spake,
Now sound th’eter­nal word;
And in the courts of love ye make
Your child­ren’s voic­es heard.

Lord Je­sus Christ, eter­nal child,
Make Thou our child­hood Thine;
That we with Thee the meek and mild
May share the love di­vine.