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WHILE TO BETHLEHEM WE ARE GOING

Scripture Verse

Let us now go…unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. Luke 2:15

Introduction

Words: Vio­lan­te do Céu (1601–1693). Trans­lat­ed from Por­tu­guese to Eng­lish by John Ad­am­son, Lu­si­tan­ia Il­lus­tra­ta, 1842.

Music: Ad­vent Peace Scott Wer­de­baugh, 2017 (🔊 ).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of do Céu or Ad­am­son (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els), would you send us an e-mail?

portrait
Scott Werdebaugh (1951–)

Lyrics

While to Bethl’hem we are go­ing,
Tell me now, to cheer the road,
Tell me why this love­ly In­fant
Quitted His di­vine abode.

Refrain

From that world to bring to this
Peace, which, of all earth­ly bliss­es,
Is the bright­est, pur­est bliss.

Wherefore from His throne ex­alt­ed
Came He on this earth to dwell;
All His pomp a hum­ble man­ger,
All His court a nar­row cell?

Refrain

Why did He, the Lord Eter­nal,
Mortal pil­grim deign to be;
He who fa­shioned for His glo­ry,
Boundless im­mor­tal­ity?

Refrain

Well, then, let us haste to Beth­l’hem;
Thither let us haste and rest;
For, of all Heav’n’s gifts, the sweet­est,
Sure, is peace—the sweet­est, best.

Refrain