Moravian Book of Worship ‎#307

307. From Heaven High I Come to Earth

1 From heaven high I come to earth;
I bring good tidings of great mirth;
this mirth is such a wondrous thing
that I must tell you all and sing.

2 A little child for you this morn
has from a chosen maid been born,
a little child so tender, sweet,
that you should skip upon your feet.

3 How glad we'll be that this is so!
With all the shepherds let us go
to see what God for us has done
in sending us his own dear Son.

4 Look, look, my heart, and let me peek.
Whom in the manger do you seek?
Who is that lovely little one?
The baby Jesus, God's own Son.

5 Be welcome, Lord; be now our guest.
By you poor sinners have been blessed.
In nakedness and cold you lie.
How can I thank you; how can I?

6 You wanted so to make me know
that you had let all great things go.
You had a palace in the sky;
you left it there for such as I.

7 And if the world were twice as wide,
with gold and precious jewels inside,
still such a cradle would not do
to hold a babe as great as you.

8 To God who sent his only Son
be glory, laud, and honor done.
Let all the choir of heav'n rejoice,
the new ring in with heart and voice.

Text Information

• First Line: From heaven high I come to earth
• Title: From Heaven High I Come to Earth
• Author: Martin Luther (1541)
• Translator: Roland H. Bainton (1948)
• Meter: L.M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1995
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:1-20
  ;
  John 3:13
• Topic: Christmas; Christian year--Christmas

Tune Information

• Name: VOM HIMMEL HOCH
• Composer: Valentin Schumann (1539)
• Harmonizer: Johann Sebastian Bach, 1685-1750
• Meter: L.M.
• Key: D Major