Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church ‎#23

23. The happy Christmas comes once more

1 The happy Christmas comes once more,
The heavenly Guest is at the door,
The blessed words the shepherds thrill,
The joyous tidings: "Peace, good-will."

2 The lowly Saviour meekly lies,
Laid off the splendor of the skies;
No crown bedecks His forehead fair,
No pearl, nor gem, nor silk is there.

3 O holy Child, Thy manger gleams
Till earth and heaven glow with it beams,
Till midnight noon's broad light hath won,
And Jacob's Star outshines the sun.

4 Thou patriarchs' Joy, Thou prophets' Song,
Thou heavenly Day-Spring looked for long,
Thou Son of Man, incarnate Word,
Great David's Son, great David's Lord!

5 Come, Jesus, glorious heavenly Guest,
Keep Thine own Christmas in our breast,
Then David's harpstrings, hushed so long,
Shall swell our jubilee of song.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: The happy Christmas comes once more
• Author: Nicolai F. S. Grundtvig, d. 1872
• Translator: Charles Porterfield Krauth (1868)
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1917
• Topic: The Church Year: Christmas

Tune Information

• Name: EMMANUEL
• Composer: C. Balle (1850)
• Meter: L. M.
• Key: E Major