The Cyber Hymnal ‎#7408

7408. While Their Flocks the Shepherds Tended

1. While their flocks the shepherds tended,
Heavenly hosts to earth descended,
Singing, with all voices blended,
Fear not, Christ is born today.

2. Eastern seers rich gifts had wrought Him,
Gold, frankincense, myrrh they brought Him;
Guided by a star they sought Him,
Prince of Life and Victory.

3. On that Child with Mary gazing,
Join ye Christians all in raising
Songs to Him whom Heaven is praising,
God incarnate come to men.

4. From this day’s first dawn to even,
Praise to Christ our King be given
By all earth, and all in Heaven,
In our sweetest, loftiest praise.

Text Information

• First Line: While their flocks the shepherds tended
• Title: While Their Flocks the Shepherds Tended
• Latin Title: Quem pastores laudavere
• Translator (from Latin): John Fulton
• Meter: 88.87
• Language: English
• Source: Medieval German, sometime between the 13th & 17th Centuries; Appeared in Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young, edited by John H. Hopkins, (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), number 53
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: QUEM PASTORES
• Meter: 88.87
• Incipit: 13345 65234 54321
• Key: F Major
• Source: Mel­o­dy from Hoh­en­furth man­u­script, 1410
• Copyright: Public Domain