The Cyber Hymnal ‎#5198

5198. Once in Bethlehem of Judah

1. 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.

2. 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]

3. 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]

4. 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]

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

6. 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]

7. 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]

Text Information

• First Line: Once in Bethlehem of Judah
• Title: Once in Bethlehem of Judah
• Author: Ce­cil Al­ex­an­der
• Refrain First Line: O Savior, gentle Savior
• Language: English
• Source: The Sun­day-School Hym­nal and Ser­vice Book, by Charles L. Hutch­ins (Med­ford, Mass­a­chu­setts: Charles L. Hutch­ins, 1887)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: [Once in Bethlehem of Judah]
• Composer: F. J. Dugard (1891)
• Incipit: 66533 21712 15325
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: Public Domain