O come, ye youths and maidens

1 O come, ye youths and maidens
In ev’ry clime and land,
Ye followers of Jesus,
The Lord’s own chosen band;
Come, lift your cheerful voices
To praise your heav’nly King,
For He delights in anthems
The happy children sing.

2 The Saviour loves the children,—
Himself was once a child
Who lay on Mary’s bosom,
An infant, meek and mild,—
And now in heav’n He listens
To hymns of joy they bring;
He knows no dearer music
Than songs the children sing.

3 To seek His straying children
He came to earth and died,
And now the gentle Shepherd
Would draw them to His side.
‘Tis meet that childish voices
Should praise their Saviour King;
Let all the earth reecho
The song the children sing!

4 What tho’ the years may hasten,
And youthful joys take wing,
To childhood songs of Jesus
And childlike faith we’ll cling;
Some day with holier voices
Our grateful praise we’ll bring,
And join the ransomed children
In songs the angels sing.

Amen.

Source: The Junior Hymnal, Containing Sunday School and Luther League Liturgy and Hymns for the Sunday School #3