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: Ce­cil F. Al­ex­an­der, in Voic­es of Praise, ed­it­ed by Charles L. Hut­chins (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Ol­iv­er Dit­son, 1883), num­ber 52.

Music: F. J. Du­gard (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Du­gard’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of him (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

portrait
Cecil F. Alexander (1818–1895)

Lyrics

Once in Bethlehem of Judah,
Far away across the sea,
There was laid a little baby
On a virgin mother’s knee.

Refrain

O Sav­ior, gentle Sav­ior,
Hear Thy loving children sing,
The God of our sal­va­tion,
The child that is a king.

It was not a stately palace
Where that little baby lay,
With His servants to attend Him,
And with guards to keep the way.

Refrain

But the oxen stood around Him,
In a stable low and dim;
In the world He had created
There was not a room for Him.

Refrain

For He left His Fa­ther’s glo­ry,
And the golden halls above,
And He took our human nature,
In the greatness of His love.

Refrain

Of His infinite compassion,
He can feel our want and woe;
For He suffered, He was tempted,
When He lived our life below.

Refrain

Still His childhood’s bright example
Gives a light to our poor homes;
From the blood of His atoning
Still our hope of pardon comes.

Refrain

Still He stands and pleads in Hea­ven,
For us, weak and sin-defiled;
God, who is a man for ever,
Jesus, who was once a child.

Refrain