Scripture Verse

Unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

Introduction

Words: Pos­si­bly from a 14th Cen­tu­ry Be­ne­dic­tine pro­ces­sion­al from the mon­as­tery of St. Ge­org, Hrad­lisch, near Ol­mütz (now Olo­mouc, Czech­ia) (Pu­er na­tus in Beth­le­hem).

Music: Pu­er Na­tus com­pos­er un­known (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

A babe is born in Beth­le­hem, Beth­le­hem,
Therefore re­joice Je­ru­sa­lem,
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

Within a man­ger He doth lie, He doth lie,
Whose throne is set above the sky.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

Stillness was all the man­ger round, man­ger round,
The crea­ture its cre­at­or found.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

The wise men came, led by the star, by the star,
Gold, myrrh, and in­cense brought from far.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

His mo­ther is the vir­gin mild, vir­gin mild,
And He the Fa­ther’s on­ly child.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

The ser­pent’s wound He bear­eth not, bear­eth not,
Yet takes our blood, and shares our lot,
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

Our hu­man flesh He en­ters in, en­ters in,
But bears no sin­gle taint of sin.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

To fall­en man Him­self He bowed, self He bowed,
That He might lift us up to God.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

On this most bless­èd Ju­bi­lee, Ju­bi­lee,
All glo­ry be, O God, to Thee.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

O Ho­ly Three, we Thee ad­ore, Thee ad­ore,
This day, hence­forth, for­ev­er­more.
Hallelujah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

illustration
The Nativity
Gerard David (1460–1523)