Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#25a

25a. Behold! behold! what wonders here!

1 Behold! behold! what wonders here!
The gloomy night turns bright and clear,
A brilliant light dispels the shade,
The stars before it pale and fade.

2 A wondrous light it is, I trow,
And not the ancient sun shines now;
For, contrary to nature, night
Is turned by it to day so bright.

3 What means He to announce to us,
Who nature’s course can alter thus?
A mighty work designed must be,
When such a mighty sign we see.

4 To us vouchsafed can it be
The Sun of Righteousness to see,
The Star from Jacob’s stem so bright,
The Woman’s Seed, the Gentiles’ Light?

5 ’Tis even so--for from the sky
Heaven’s hosts with joyful tidings hie,
That He is born in Bethlehem’s stall,
Who Savior is and Lord of all!

6 Oh blessedness! the goodly throng
Of sainted fathers waited long
To see this day, with hope deferred,
As we may learn from God’s own Word.

Text Information

• First Line: Behold! behold! what wonders here!
• Author: Paul Gerhardt (1667)
• Translator: John Kelly (1867)
• Meter: L. M. No. 1
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: The Church Year: Christmas; Christmas
• Notes: From the German text: Schaut, schaut, was ist fuer Wunder dar

Tune Information

• Name: LIGHT OF THE NATIONS (Du lieber, heil'ger frommer Christ)
• Meter: L. M. No. 1
• Key: A Major