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

portrait
Richard Mant (1776–1848)

Words: Au­re­li­us Pru­den­ti­us, 5th Cen­tu­ry (O So­la Mag­na­rum Ur­bi­um), cen­to. Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Ri­chard Mant, An­cient Hymns from the Ro­man Bre­vi­ary (Lon­don: J. G. & F. Riv­ing­ton, 1837), num­ber 34.

Music: In­no­cents The Par­ish Choir, 1850. Har­mo­ny by Will­iam H. Monk, 1861 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

portrait
William H. Monk (1823–1889)

Lyrics

First of ci­ties, Beth­le­hem,
Hail, most fa­vored! When He came,
Savior of the hu­man race,
Thee the God­head deigned to grace.

Brighter than the sun’s bright car,
And more glo­ri­ous was the star,
Which in Thee new-born from high
Told the in­car­nate De­ity.

Him what time the Ma­gi­ans saw,
Forth their ori­ent gifts they draw;
Prostrate they with vows unfold
Myrrh, and frank­in­cense, and gold.

Frankincense and gold they bring,
To an­nounce their God and king;
Spice of aro­ma­tic myrrh,
To an­nounce His se­pul­cher.

Jesus, let Thy name be blest,
To the Gen­tiles ma­ni­fest;
To the Fa­ther glo­ry be,
With the Spi­rit, and with Thee!