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

Words: Will­iam Wood, in Christ­mas Min­strel­sy, by Jo­seph Will­iams (Lon­don & Man­ches­ter, Eng­land: No­vel­lo & Brem­ner, 1864), num­ber 74.

Music: Or­an­more, ar­ranged by Hen­ry J. Gaunt­lett, 1864 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Henry J. Gauntlett (1805–1876)
National Portrait Gallery

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Lyrics

David’s ci­ty dim­ly lies
On the hills of Ju­dah,
Darker grow the ev­en­ing skies,
And the blast blows rud­er;
Hasten to the ci­ty gate,
Joseph, ere it be too late,
Here and there still shines a light,
Seek a shel­ter from the night.

Silence reigns on hill and lea,
Silent Beth­l’em’s foun­tains,
Silent lies the dist­ant sea,
Under Mo­ab’s moun­tains;
In the town up­on the steep,
Wearied tra­vel­ers lay asleep,
When the shep­herds, from the sky,
Heard the an­gels’ voic­es cry.

For the silence of the night,
All the heav’ns are ring­ing,
For the dark­ness an­gels bright
Christmas an­thems sing­ing:
Never shall the light grow dim,
Never cease that joy­ous hymn;
Let the ran­somed ones re­ply,
Glory be to God on high!