Scripture Verse

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

Introduction

portrait
Alfonso M. de’ Liguori (1696–1787)

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).

portrait
Henry W. Longfellow
(1807–1882)

Lyrics

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.