The New Century Hymnal ‎#145

145. Once in Royal David's City

1 Once in royal David’s city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for a bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

2 Jesus came to earth from heaven,
who is God and Head of all,
Sheltered in a rustic stable,
cradles in a common stall:
With the poor and meek and lowly
lived on earth our Savior holy.

3 And through all this wondrous childhood
Jesus honors and obeyed,
Loved and watched the tender mother
whose strong arms a cradle made.
So, like Jesus, we should be
serving God obediently.

4 Jesus is our childhood’s pattern,
daily like us lived and grew,
Jesus, little, weak, and helpless,
tears and smiles and comfort knew.
Jesus felt the pain of sadness,
and the joyous lift of gladness.

5 We at last shall meet our Savior,
fount of God's redeeming grace,
For that Child so dear and gentle,
reigns within a glorious place;
Leading all God's children on
to the heaven where saints have gone.

Text Information

• First Line: Once in royal David's city
• Title: Once in Royal David's City
• Author: Cecil F. Alexander (1848, alt.)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1995
• Scripture:
  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
  ;
  Luke 2:1-7
  ;
  Luke 1:26-35
• Topic: Children; Christmas; Jesus Christ: Birth and Infancy; Jesus Christ: Sovereignty and Reign; Obedience; The Annunciation; Year A: Annunciation; Year B: Advent 4; Year B: Annunciation; Year C: Annunciation

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett (1849)
• Harmonizer: A. H. Mann (1919)
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7.
• Key: F Major