This blessed Christmastide we will

This blessed Christmastide we will,
With heart and mind rejoicing,
Employ our every thought and skill,
God’s grace and honor voicing.
In Him that in the manger lay
We will with all our might today
Exult in heart and spirit,
And hail Him as our Lord and King
Till earth’s remotest bounds shall ring
With praises of His merit.

A little Child of Jesse’s stem,
And Son of God in heaven,
To earth from heaven’s glory came
And was for sinners given.
It so distressed His loving heart
To see the world from God depart
And in transgression languish,
That He forsook His home above
And came to earth in tender love
To bear our grief and anguish.

Therefore we hymn His praises here
And though we are but lowly,
Our loud hosannas everywhere
Shall voice His mercy holy.
The tent of God is now with man,
And He will dwell with us again
When in His name assembling.
And we shall shout His name anew
Till hell itself must listen to
Our Christmas song with trembling.

And though our song of joy be fraught
With strains of lamentation,
The burden of our cross shall not
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Subdue our jubilation.
For when the heart is most distressed,
The harp of joy is tuned so best
Its chords of joy are ringing,
And broken hearts best comprehend
The boundless joy our Lord and Friend
This Christmas day is bringing.

Hallelujah, our strife is o’er!
Who would henceforth with sadness
Repine and weep in sorrow sore
This blessed day of gladness.
Rejoice, rejoice, ye saints on earth,
And sing the wonders of His birth
Whose glory none can measure.
Hallelujah, the Lord is mine,
And I am now by grace divine
The heir of all His treasure!

Source: Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark #38