Scripture Verse

Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Introduction

Words: John Need­ham, Hymns De­vo­tion­al and Mo­ral on Va­ri­ous Sub­jects (Bri­stol, Eng­land: S. Far­ley, 1768), num­ber 77.

Music: Dun­dee Scot­tish Psal­ter, 1615 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Need­ham (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Blest news! To us a child is born,
To us a son is giv­en;
Emmanuel He, the God with us,
The choic­est gift of Hea­ven.

With trans­port view this won­drous Child,
Of pur­est vir­gin born;
In your best songs the ti­tles sing
Which His great name adorn.

The bright­est rays of heav’n­ly truth
From Him re­flect­ed shine;
The Fa­ther’s wis­dom dwells in Him,
Our coun­sel­or divine.

To uni­vers­al em­pire born,
The charge He well sus­tains;
Nations re­joice, the migh­ty Lord,
Your king Mes­si­ah reigns.

With grow­ing hon­ors He shall sit
On Da­vid’s an­cient throne;
There shall He ev­er reign, and thence
Shall make His jus­tice known.

Lord of the fu­ture glo­ri­ous age
By Hea­ven’s un­changed de­cree;
Gentiles and Jews shall own His sway,
And ang­els bow the knee.

Blest news! to us a child is born;
The Prince of Peace is giv­en;
He brings down heav’n­ly peace to earth,
And makes our peace with Heav’n.