Scripture Verse

She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger. Luke 2:7

Introduction

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Martin Luther (1483–1546)

Words: Mar­tin Lu­ther, 1535. Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, 1855. These lyr­ics are from the long­er hymn, From Hea­ven Above to Earth I Come.

Music: Vom Him­mel hoch Geist­liche Lied­er, by Val­en­tin Schu­mann (Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny: 1539). Har­mo­ny by Jo­hann S. Bach (🔊 pdf nwc).

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Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)
illustration
Adoration of the Magi
Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640)

Ah, dear­est Je­sus, ho­ly Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, un­de­filed
Within my heart, that it may be
A qui­et cham­ber kept for Thee.

My heart for ve­ry joy doth leap,
My lips no more can si­lence keep;
I, too, must sing with joy­ful tongue
That sweet­est an­cient cra­dle song.

Glory to God in high­est Hea­ven,
Who un­to man His Son hath giv­en;
While an­gels sing with ten­der mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.