The Cyber Hymnal ‎#15322

15322. When Christ Was Born In Bethlehem

1 When Christ was born in Bethlehem,
’Twas night, but seemed the noon of day;
The star whose light was pure and bright,
Was pure and bright,
Shone with unwavering rays;
But one bright star, one glorious star
Guided the eastern magi from afar.

2 Then peace was spread throughout the land,
The lion fed beside the lamb;
And with the kid, to pastures led,
To pastures led, the spotted leopard fed;
In peace, in peace, the calf, the bear,
And wolf and lamb reposed together there.

3 As shepherds watched their flocks by night,
An angel brighter than the sun
Appeared in air, and gently said,
And gently said, "Fear not, be not afraid.
Behold, behold, beneath your eyes
Earth has become a smiling paradise."

Text Information

• First Line: When Christ was born in Bethlehem
• Title: When Christ Was Born In Bethlehem
• Italian Title: Quanno nascette Ninno
• Author: Alfonso de' Liguoi, 1696-1787
• Translator: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, 1807-1882 (alt.)
• Language: English
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: [When Christ was born in Bethlehem]
• Composer: W. F. Taylor (1916)
• Key: C Major
• Source: Carols Old and Carols New by Charles L. Hutchins (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)
• Copyright: Public Domain