Scripture Verse

She brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Introduction

Words: Un­known au­thor, 1653 (Mein Herz will ich dir schenk­en). Com­po­site trans­la­tion from Ger­man to Eng­lish.

Music: Cor­dis Do­num Clau­sen­er Ge­sang­buch, 1653 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Lyrics

To Thee my heart I of­fer,
O Christ-child sweet and dear,
Upon Thy love re­ly­ing;
Oh, be Thou ev­er near!
Take Thou my heart and give me Thine
And let it be for­ev­er mine,
O Je­sus, ho­ly, un­de­filed,
My Sav­ior meek and mild.

My heart with­in is glow­ing,
O Christ-child sweet and dear;
I love Thee, Lord and Sav­ior,
Oh, be Thou ev­er near!
I see Thee in a man­ger laid,
Near cattle rest­ing un­a­fraid;
I see Thy deep hu­mi­li­ty
And low­ly bow to Thee.

What brought Thee to the man­ger,
O Christ-child sweet and dear?
Thy love for me, a stran­ger—
Oh, be Thou ev­er near!
O Lord, how great is this Thy love
That reach­es down from Heav’n above,
Thy love for us, by sin de­filed,
That made Thee, God, a child!

With all my heart and be­ing,
O Christ-child sweet and dear,
I love Thee, and Thee on­ly;
Oh, be Thou ev­er near!
My heart I in Thy man­ger lay;
Let it re­main there and for aye
Draw it to Thee that it may be
Secure eter­nal­ly.

Let me be Thine for­ev­er,
O Christ-child sweet and dear;
Uphold me with Thy mer­cy,
And be Thou ev­er near.
From Thee I glad­ly all re­ceive,
And what is mine to Thee I give,
My heart, my soul, and all I own.
Let these be Thine alone.