The Cyber Hymnal ‎#12783

12783. They Come From Far A King To Seek

1 They come from far a king to seek,
They find a babe and maiden meek,
In low-roofed oxen stall:
Yet rightly richest gifts they bring,
For truly this Babe is King of all kings,
The God and Lord of all.

2 Bright gold one offers now to Him,
Whose glory makes the fine gold dim,
His kingly state to show;
And myrrh the bitter hour of strife,
When He, who giveth all things life,
In death’s dust lieth low.

3 One offers frankincense sweet and rare,
The symbol meet of praise and prayer,
Before the cradle-throne;
For surely God is in this place,
And in the blessèd Infant’s face
The might of God is shown.

4 Lord, grant us, as the kings of old,
By faith the glory to behold
Which Thy poor form doth veil;
Within the stable’s narrow bound
To know a spot of holy ground
And kneel our God to hail:

5 That, in dark shades of sinful night,
Since Thou dost call us to Thy light,
We may no longer roam;
But, lifting heart and eyes to Heav’n,
We follow the sign Thy love hath giv’n
Until the star leads us home!

Text Information

• First Line: They come from far a king to seek
• Title: They Come From Far A King To Seek
• Author: Isabella J. Postgate
• Meter: 88.6 D
• Language: English
• Source: A Christmas Legend, and Other Verses, 1899, alt.
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: HABAKKUK
• Composer: Edward Hodges, 1796-1867
• Meter: 88.6 D
• Key: C Major
• Copyright: Public Domain