Lutheran Worship ‎#59

59. O Little Town of Bethlehem

1 O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep
And dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting light.
The hopes and fears
Of all the years
Are met in thee tonight.

2 For Christ is born of Mary,
And, gathered all above
While mortals sleep,
The angels keep
Their watch of wond'ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing
To God the king
And peace to all the earth!

3 How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts
To human hearts
The blessings of his heav'n.
No ear may hear his coming;
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will
Receive him, still
The dear Christ enters in.

4 O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin,
And enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
Oh, come to us,
Abide with us,
Our Lord Immanuel!

Text Information

• First Line: O little town of Bethlehem
• Title: O Little Town of Bethlehem
• Author: Phillips Brooks, 1835-93
• Meter: 86 86 76 86
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1982
• Topic: Christmas

Tune Information

• Name: FOREST GREEN
• Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams, 1872-1958
• Meter: 86 86 76 86
• Key: F Major
• Source: English Traditional Melody; Collected by Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Copyright: From the "English Hymnal" by permission of Oxford University Press.