Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall He come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.
Micah 5:2
Words: Alfonso de’ Liguori (1696–1787) (Quanno nascette Ninno). Translated from Italian to English by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807–1882), alt.
Music: Ebenezer Beesley (1840–1906) (🔊 pdf nwc).
When Christ was born in Bethlehem,
’Twas night, but seemed the noon of day;
The stars, whose light was pure and bright,
Shone with unwavering ray; shone with unwavering ray.
But one, one glorious star; but one, one glorious star,
Guided the eastern Magi from afar.
As shepherds watched their flocks by night,
An angel, brighter than the sun,
Appeared in air, and gently said:
Fear not, be not afraid; fear not, be not afraid.
For lo! beneath your eyes, for lo! beneath your eyes,
Earth has become a smiling paradise.