Scripture Verse

My kingdom is not of this world. John 18:36

Introduction

Words: Cae­li­us Se­du­li­us, cir­ca 450 (Hos­tis He­ro­des im­pie). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Ar­thur T. Rus­sell, Psalms and Hymns (Cam­bridge, Eng­land: John Deigh­ton, 1851), num­ber 71.

Music: Das neu­ge­bor­ne Kind­lein Mel­chi­or Vul­pi­us, Ein schön geist­lich Ge­sang­buch (Je­na, Ger­ma­ny: 1609). Har­mo­ny by Jo­hann S. Bach, 1724 (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Johann Bach (1685–1750)

Lyrics

How vain was im­pi­ous Her­od’s dread
To see the crown on Je­sus’ head!
His hand no earth­ly good de­nies
Who gives the king­dom of the skies.

The wise men by His star are brought
To Him whom saints and pro­phets sought;
Their of­fer­ings Him their God con­fess,
Their eyes the light eter­nal bless.

O meek and ho­ly Lamb, to Thee
Let men and ang­els bow the knee;
Our race to sanc­ti­fy and save,
Thou dost des­cend to Jor­dan’s wave.

Lo, in her pure and glad­some hour
Cana be­held, O Christ, Thy pow­er!
The wa­ter changed to wine doth show
That Thou art God with us be­low.

Again, O Je­su, let Thy might
Appear in all the hea­then’s sight;
In Thee alone be all our boast,
O Fa­ther, Son, and Ho­ly Ghost!