Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 6 - To Shepherds As They Watched

This carol sent me down a surprisingly deep rabbit hole as I tried to come up with some interesting things to say about it. The basics are straightforward . . .

The original hymn, Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar (From Heaven Came a Host of Angels), was written by Martin Luther in 1532, based on readings from the Bible in Luke ii. 10, 11, and Matthew, ii. 6. Luther apparently wrote these verses because his first Christmas hymn, the fifteen stanza Vom Himmel hoch o Engel kommt (From heaven above, O angels, come) was considered too long. The verses celebrate Christ's birth with "glad tidings," the arrival of the Christ-child as Savior, and an invitation to all to come to the manger. Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar is one of only two hymns preserved in Luther’s own handwriting.

1) Vom Himmel kam der Engel Schar,

     From heaven came a host of angels,

erschien den hirten offenbar;

     appearing openly to the shepherds;

sie sagten ihn’: „Ein Kindlein zart,

     they said to them: "A tender child,

das liegt dort in der Krippen hart.

     lies there in the hard manger.

2) zu Bethlehem, in Davids Stadt,

     In Bethlehem, in David's city,

wie Micha das verkündet hat,

     as Micah has prophesied,

es ist der herre Jesus Christ,

     it is the Lord Jesus Christ,

der euer aller Heiland ist.

     who is the Savior of you all.

3) Des sollt ihr alle fröhlich sein,

     Therefore, you should all be joyful,

daß Gott mit euch ist worden ein.

     that God has become one with you.

Er ist geborn eu’r Fleisch und Blut,

     He is born of your flesh and blood,

eu’r Bruder ist das ewig Gut.

     your brother is the eternal Good.

4) Was kann euch tun die Sünd und Tod?

    What can sin and death do to you?

Ihr habt mit euch den wahren Gott;

    You have the true God with you;

laßt zürnen Teufel und die Höll,

    let the devil and hell rage,

Gottes Sohn ist worden eu’r Gesell.

    God's Son has become your companion."

5) Er will und kann euch lassen nicht,

     He will and can never leave you,

setzt ihr auf ihn eu’r Zuversicht;

     if you place your trust in Him;

es mögen euch viel fechten an:

     many may fight against you:

dem sei Trotz, der’s nicht lassen kann.

     defy him who cannot desist.

6) Zuletzt müßt ihr doch haben recht,

     In the end you must prevail,

ihr seid nun worden Gotts Geschlecht.

     you have now become God's offspring.

Des danket Gott in Ewigkeit,

     Therefore thank God for all eternity,

geduldig, fröhlich allezeit.

     patient and joyful at all times.

It is set to the tune Puer nobis nascitur from the 1582 collection Piae Cantiones (Pious Songs), and the two most famous and widely used harmonizations of the hymn are by Michael Praetorius (1609) and George Ratcliffe Woodward (1910).

Puer nobis nascitur (chant)

Puer nobis nascitur - Montreal Compline Choir

Puer nobis nascitur (Michael Praetorius) - Gabrielli Consort

Next we turn to the English version of Luther's hymn, or should we say, one of the English versions, and one that follows the original very closely. This is the 1854 translation by Richard Massie, To Shepherds As They Watched By Night (below). Here's where my search got tangled and messy. One would think that Massie's fine translation would receive some outstanding performances online. That is not the case as of Christmas 2025. There are a number of "pop" and "contemporary" sounding versions using Massie's words, but no performances by professional choirs. And the only videos presenting the lovely George Ratcliffe Woodward harmonization are by a number of pianists who recorded the arrangement in lieu of a full choir.

1. To shepherds as they watched by night

Appeared a host of angels bright;

Behold the tender Babe, they said,

In yonder lowly manger laid.

2. At Bethlehem, in David's town,

As Micah did of old make known;

'Tis Jesus Christ, your Lord and King,

Who doth to all salvation bring.

3. Oh, then rejoice that through His Son

God is with sinners now at one;

Made like yourselves of flesh and blood,

Your Brother is the eternal God.

4. What harm can sin and death then do?

The true God now abides with you.

Let hell and Satan rage and chafe,

Christ is your Brother--ye are safe.

5. Not one He will or can forsake

Who Him his confidence doth make.

Let all his wiles the Tempter try,

You may his utmost powers defy.

6. Ye shall and must at last prevail;

God's own ye are, ye cannot fail.

To God forever sing your praise

With joy and patience all your days.

To Shepherds As They Watched By Night - George Ratcliffe Woodward harmonization; Andrew Remillard, piano

All this searching then led me to other recordings of choirs singing the same music, but to different texts. Which then steered me to producing a list of other texts that use the 16th century tune as an underlay - some English transformations of Luther's original ideas, and others quite unrelated to Luther's words or Christmas at all . . . even though Puer nobis nascitur is a medieval Christmas carol. Here's what I found:

Hymns using the tune Puer nobis nascitur, from Piae Cantiones (1582):

 - A Little Child the Savior Came

 - All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord

 - As Angels Joyed with One Accord

 - As It Fell Upon a Night

 - Come Join with Me

 - Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth

 - Creating Spirit, Holy Lord

 - Creator of the Stars of Night

 - Emmanuel, We Sing Thy Praise

 - Epiphany of Wisdom's Dawn

 - Father in Heav'n, Who Lovest All

 - Good News from Heaven the Angels Bring

 - Jesus Christ the Lord is Born

 - Joy Dawned Again on Easter Day

 - The Lord Whom Earth and Sea and Sky

 - My Song Forever Shall Record (Psalm 89)

 - My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord

 - O Father, Listen to Our Prayer

 - O God, You Are My God Alone

 - O Lord of Hosts, Almighty King

 - O Lord, Thy People Gathered Here

 - O Love Divine, Who's Constant Beam

 - O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High

 - O Splendor of God's Glory Bright

 - O That I Could Forever Dwell

 - O Thou Whose Gracious Presence Shone

 - On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry

 - That Easter Day with Joy was Bright

 - These Treasured Children

 - Thou Lord of Hosts, Whose Guiding Hand

 - 'Tis Winter Now, the Fallen Snow

 - To Shepherd's as They Watched by Night

 - Unto Us a Boy is Born

 - Unto Us is Born a Son

 - The Virtue of Humility

 - We Are But Little Children Poor

 - We Praise Thee, God, for Harvests Earned

 - What Star is This, with Beams So Bright

Here's one of the best performances that I could find, by a choir singing the music of Puer nobis nascitur and the words What Star is this, with Beams So Bright

The Redeemer Choir

1. What star is this, with beams so bright,

More lovely than the noonday light?

’Tis sent to announce a newborn king,

Glad tidings of our God to bring.

2. ’Tis now fulfilled what God decreed,

“From Jacob shall a star proceed;”

And lo! the eastern sages stand

To read in heav’n the Lord's command.

3. O Jesus, while the star of grace

Impels us on to seek thy face,

Let not our slothful hearts refuse

The guidance of thy light to use.

4. To God the Father, heav’nly Light,

To Christ, revealed in earthly night,

To God the Holy Spirit raise

An endless song of thankful praise!

And here's a beautiful organ prelude on the same tune . . . 

Prelude on To Shepherds As They Watched By Night - Paul Manz, composer; Yasmin Phillip, organ

And LASTLY(!), a fine version of a variation on the Puer nobis nascitur tune (in 4/4 time instead of 3/4 time) and to the words As It Fell Upon A Night

arr. by Katherine K. Davis - Duqeusne University Chamber Singers

1. As it fell upon a night

In the winter weather,

Angels bright in starry height

Began to sing together.

2. Shepherds sleeping on the plain

Woke to see the glory,

All amazed they stood and gazed

And heard the angels’ story.

3. Unto you a child is born

In a manger lowly,

Humble, He, yet born to be

The King of Love most holy.

4. In a manger now He lies,

ox and ass before Him;

All the world at last shall come

to worship and adore Him.”

5. Though it be a winter night,

Love is still appearing!

Through the sound of war and woe

that song we still are hearing.

6. Happy angels from afar,

Cease your singing never!

In excelsis gloria!

Forever and forever.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 7 - Up Good Christen Folk

Up Good Christen Folk is based on a medieval song that was part of a collection compiled in Finland and first published in Sweden in 1582 as Piae Cantiones (Pious Songs). This collection contains Latin songs that were sung at that time in cathedral schools in Finland, many of which are still part of the repertoire of Swedish and Finnish choirs today. In 1853 a copy of Piae Cantiones was given to the composer John Mason Neale by G. J. R. Gordon, Her Majesty's Envoy and Minister at Stockholm. Neale then passed the book along to choirmaster Thomas Helmore. Helmore adapted the carol melodies and Neale either paraphrased the carol lyrics into English or wrote entirely new verses. Twelve revised selections from Piae Cantiones were then published as Carols for Christmastide (1853). In 1901 one of these carols was arranged for choir by the composer George Ratcliffe Woodward - who also provided the English text - and Up Good Christen Folk, as we know it today, appeared for the first time in The Cowley Carol Book (1902).

The carol is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ asking the “good Christen folk” to get up and listen to the bells ringing to welcome and adore him. (notes from FeeNotes.com)

Ding-dong, ding:

Ding-a-dong-a-ding:

Ding-dong, ding-dong:

Ding-a-dong-ding.

Up! good Christen folk, and listen

How the merry church bells ring,

And from steeple

Bid good people

Come adore the new-born King:

Tell the story how from glory

God came down at Christmastide,

Bringing gladness,

Chasing sadness,

Show'ring blessings far and wide.

Born of mother, blest o'er other,

Ex Maria Virgine,

In a stable

('Tis no fable),

Christus natus hodie.

Up Good Christen Folk - Choir of King's College, Cambridge

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 2 - Royal Day That Chasest Gloom

As we get nearer to Christmas Day, we'll turn to a carol whose German lyrics date back over 700 years! According to John Mason Neale, the famous 19th century English Anglican priest, scholar, and hymnwriter, the church hymn Dies est lætitiæ (It is a day of joy) dates from "the 13th or 14th century. A  great favourite all over Europe, [and] Germany and Holland had ancient translations. It is perhaps scarcely worth mentioning that Luther believed it inspired." An English translation, Royal Day That Chasest Gloom, made by Neale, appeared in Carols for Christmas-tide (1853). In that same collection Thomas Helmore set the text to music, using a melody from the famous 1582 music collection Piae Cantiones, with additional melodic material from Koler's Ruefbuechl (1601), with a harmonization by the Rev. G. R. Woodward.

Royal Day that chasest gloom,

    Day by gladness speeded:

Thou beheld'st from Mary's womb

    How the King proceeded:

Very God, Who made the sky,

Set the sun and stars on high,

    Heav'n and earth sustaining:

Very man, Who freely bare,

Toil and sorrow, woe and care,

    Man's salvation gaining.

As the sun-beam through the glass

    Passeth, but not staineth;

Thus the Virgin, as she was,

    Virgin still remaineth;

Blessed Mother! in whose womb

Lay the Light that exiles gloom,

    God to earth descending:

Blessed Main! whose spotless breast

Gives the King of Glory rest,

    Nurture, warmth, and tending.

Christ, Who mad'st us out of dust,

    Breath and spirit giving:

Christ, from Whose dear steps we must

    Pattern take of living:

Christ, Who camest once to save

From the curse and from the grave,

    Healing, light'ning, cheering:

Christ, Who now wast made as we,

Grand that we may be like Thee

    In Thy next appearing.

And it is here that we've run into a unique problem, the first time in four years . . . there is no good choice of YouTube videos to present this day's carol! We'll have to go with a couple of instrumental versions, and a performance of the original latin text with music that closely resembles Neale & Helmore's 19th century carol, by the Hungarian early music group Juvenalis.

Royal Day That Chasest Gloom - Luke Wahl (piano)

Royal Day that Chasest Gloom - presented on the website HymnTime (you'll have to hit the play button on the embedded audio player)

Dies est laetitiae - Juvenalis

Twelve Days (Before) Christmas

Day 5 - Gaudete

Gaudete is a sacred Christmas chant, thought to have been written in the 16th century. It was published in Piae Cantiones (1582), a Finnish/Swedish collection of sacred songs. No music is given for the verses, but the standard tune comes from older liturgical books. The Latin text is a typical medieval song of praise, following the standard pattern for the time – a uniform series of four line stanzas, each preceded by a two line refrain.

Gaudete, gaudete, Christus est natus / Rejoice, rejoice, Christ is born

Ex Maria virgine, gaudete / Of the Virgin Mary, rejoice!

Tempus adest gratiæ / The time of grace has come

Hoc quod optabamus / What we have wished for

Carmina lætitiæ / Songs of joy

Devote reddamus / Let us give back faithfully

Deus homo factus est / God has become man

Natura mirante / With nature marvelling

Mundus renovatus est / The world has been renewed

A Christo regnante / By the reigning Christ

Ezechielis porta / The closed gate of Ezekiel

Clausa pertransitur / Is passed through

Unde lux est orta / Whence the light is risen

Salus invenitur / Salvation has been found

Ergo nostra contio / Therefore, let our assembly

Psallat iam in lustro / Now sing in brightness

Benedicat Domino / Let it bless the Lord

Salus Regi nostro / Greetings to our King

Gaudete - The King's Singers

 

Gaudete - Musica Ficta

Gaudete - Mediaeval Baebes

Gaudete - Choir of Clare College Cambridge & London Cello Orchestra

Twelve Days of Christmas

Day 10 - Personent hodie

Personent hodie is a medieval Christmas carol originally published in the 1582 Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, a volume of 74 songs with Latin texts collected by Jacobus Finno (Jaakko Suomalainen), a Swedish Lutheran cleric. The song book had its origins in the libraries of cathedral song schools, whose repertory had strong links with medieval Prague, where clerical students from Finland and Sweden had studied for generations. A melody found in a 1360 manuscript from the nearby Bavarian city of Moosburg in Germany is highly similar, and it is from this manuscript that the song is usually dated. Walter Bitner also writes: "A copy of Piæ Cantiones was given to the English scholar and hymnist J.M. Neale in the mid-19th century by the British ambassador to Sweden, and Neale may be credited with introducing Personent Hodie to the Christmas traditions of the English-speaking world. With a Latin text describing the nativity and a unison melody evocative of plainchant, it is an ideal carol for inclusion in a Winter Solstice performance.

Personent hodie

Personent hodie voces puerulae,
   Let resound today the voices of children,
laudantes iucunde qui nobis est natus,
   joyfully praising Him who is born to us,
summo Deo datus,
 given by most high God,
et de vir, vir, vir, et de vir, vir, vir
et de virgineo ventre procreatus.
   and conceived in a virginal womb.

In mundo nascitur, pannis involvitur
   He was born into the world, wrapped in swaddling clothes,
praesepi ponitur stabulo brutorum,
   and laid in a manger in a stable for animals,
rector supernorum.
   the master of the heavens.
Perdidit, dit, dit, Perdidit, dit, dit,
perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.
   The prince of Hell has lost his spoils.

Magi tres venerunt, munera offerunt,
   Three Magi came, they were bearing gifts,
parvulum inquirunt, stellulam sequendo,
   and sought the little one, following a star,
ipsum adorando,
   to worship him,
aurum, thus, thus, thus,
thus, thus, thus, aurum, thus, et myrrham ei offerendo.
   and offer him gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri,
   Let all the junior clerics and also the boys
cantent ut angeli: advenisti mundo,
   sing like angels: "You have come to the world,
laudes tibi fundo.
   I pour out praises to you.
Ideo, o, o, Ideo, o, o,
ideo gloria in excelsis Deo.
   Therefore, glory to God in the highest!"

Personent Hodie - arr. by Rutter / Ely Cathedral Choir

Personent Hodie - Cambridge Singers

Personent Hodie - Mediaeval Baebes

Personent Hodie - Elthin

Twelve Days of Christmas

Christmas Day (Day 1) - Christ was Born on Christmas Day

The words for this carol come from the Latin hymn Resonet In Laudibus (13th cent), freely translated by the Rev. John Mason Neale. The music originates from Resonet In Laudibus (also known as Nunc Angelorum), the Finnish title of a German tune from the 14th century (from Piae Cantiones, 1582), adapted by Rev. Thomas Helmore.

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day 

Christ was born on Christmas Day;
Wreathe the holly, twine the bay;
Christus natus hodie:
The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary.

He is born to set us free,
He is born our Lord to be,
Ex Maria Virgine:
The God, the Lord, by all ador’d forever.

Let the bright red berries glow
Ev’rywhere in goodly show;
Christus natus hodie:
The Babe, the Son, the Holy One of Mary.

Christian men, rejoice and sing;
‘Tis the birthday of a King,
Ex Mariâ Virgine:
The God, the Lord, by all ador’d forever.

. . . continues here:
Night of sadness
Morn of Gladness
Evermore:
Ever, Ever:
After many troubles sore,
Morn of gladness evermore and evermore.
Midnight scarcely pass'd and over,
Drawing to this holy morn,
Very early, very early
Christ was born.

. . . or here:
He came among us at Christmas time
At Christmas time in Bethlehem
Men shall bring him from far and wide,
Love’s diadem
Jesus, Jesus;
All the world this day is come to praise you.

Joseph, Dearest Joseph mine,
Help me cradle the Child divine.
God reward thee and all that’s thine,
In paradise," so prays the mother Mary.

Gladly dear one, Lady mine
Help I cradle this Child of thine.
God’s own light on us both shall shine,
In paradise," as prays the mother Mary.

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day - Eddie Lewis (trumpet)

Christ Was Born On Christmas Day - Chichester Cathedral Choir

Christmas Day - Christ was Born on Christmas Day - Robert Shaw Chorale

And for those who've made it this far . . .  here are two unusual tunes of the season that I'm not sure what to call. One is from Ukraine, the other a Medieval Dutch song of the announcement of the Incarnation by the angel Gabriel to Mary that she will give birth to the Son of God.

Добрий вечір тобі пане господарю (Good evening to you, Mr. Host!)

Good evening to you, Mr. Master

Chorus:
Rejoice!
Oh, rejoice, earth,
The Son of God was born!  (The chorus is repeated after each line)

Cover the tables and everything with carpets,

And put kalachi from spring wheat.

Because three holidays will come to visit you:

And that the first holiday is Christmas,*

And the second holiday is St. Basil's Day,

And the third holiday is Holy Epiphany.

And that the first holiday will bring you comfort,

And that the second holiday will bring you happiness,

And that the third holiday will bring fate to all of us,

He will send us all fate, Ukraine will.

Het Was Een Maget Uitverkoren (There was a maiden chosen)

Het was een maged uitverkoren
   There was a Maiden chosen,
Daar Jezus af woude zijn geboren
   As Jesus wished to be born,
Chorus: Dies ben ik vro, o - o - o - o
   Therefore I am glad
Benedicamus Domino
   Let us bless the Lord

Te Nazareth al in die stede
   In Nazareth already in that city
Daar is een maged rein van zede
   There is a Maiden clean in morals
Chorus

Daar kwam een groot gezant van Gode
   There came a great messenger from God
Want Gabriël die was de bode
   Was Gabriel that messenger
Chorus

Maria, weest gegroet en blijde
   Mary, hail and glad,
Maar Maria haar zeer vermijdde
   But Maria very much avoided her
Chorus

En wilt niet vrezen maged schone
   None will fear such a beautiful Maiden
Gods moeder zult gij zijn idoone
   God's mother shall you be known
Chorus

God Heilig Geest zal in u komen
   God the Holy Spirit will come into you
Gelijk de dauw valt op de blommen
   As the dew falls on the flowers
Chorus

The Twelve Day (Before) Christmas

Day 4 . . . Before we get started today, I just wanted to add a note to yesterday's music. My brother Mark sent me a note saying that Henry Howell's piece Here is the little door, was "influenced by the external social and political conditions of the time. If it was composed in 1918, as you indicate, it would be written in the fouth year of WWI . . . a massive, catastrophic event that devastated much of the Continent. In the UK around six million men were mobilized, and of those just over 700,000 were killed. So martial images and rituals of death may have felt appropriate for the moment." That puts the references at the end of the poem to 'gold, he gives a keen-edged sword . . . incense, smoke of battle red, [and] myrrh for the honoured happy dead' into a completely different context. Thanks so much for the insight!

Today we'll turn to another ancient and beautiful Christmas hymn, Of The Father’s Love Begotten.  The latin text Corde natus ex parentis was written by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius (348-413), a lawyer and judge serving under the Christian Emperor Theodosius in the Roman territory of Tarraconensis, which would be modern day Northern Spain. For the last 10 years of his life,  Prudentius turned to writing poetry and hymns for the church.  These words are taken from the Hymnus omnis horae (Hymn for every hour), a 37-stanza poem found in the hymn collection Cathemerinon. Corde natus ex parentis, originally containing nine verses, tells the story of the creation, fall and redemption of mankind through the incarnate Christ.

The music now associated with this text is the medieval plainchant melody Divinum mysterium. Divinum mysterium (with its own words) first appeared in the Finnish song book Piae Cantiones, published in 1582. The text of the Divinum mysterium was joined to the words of Prudentius's poem by Thomas Helmore in 1851.

To get us started, here are five of the verses sung by Skylark Vocal Ensemble (text is below):

Corde Natus Ex Parentis (Divinum Mysterium) - Skylark Vocal Ensemble

Corde natus ex parentis           Of the Father's heart begotten,
Ante mundi exordium              Ere the world from chaos rose,
A et O cognominatus,              He is Alpha, from that Fountain
ipse fons et clausula                 All that is and hath been flows;
Omnium quae sunt, fuerunt,    He is Omega, of all things,
quaeque post futura sunt.        Yet to come the mystic Close,
Saeculorum saeculis.              Evermore and evermore.

Ipse iussit et creata,         By His Word was all created
dixit ipse et facta sunt,        He commanded and 'twas done;
Terra, caelum, fossa ponti,    Earth and sky and boundless ocean,  
trina rerum machina,         Universe of three in one,
Quaeque in his vigent    All that sees the moon's soft radiance,
                sub alto
solis et lunae globo.         All that breathes beneath the sun,
Saeculorum saeculis.             Evermore and evermore.

O beatus ortus ille,              O how blest that wondrous birthday,  
virgo cum puerpera              When the Maid the curse retrieved,
Edidit nostram salutem,        Brought to birth mankind's salvation
feta Sancto Spiritu,               By the Holy Ghost conceived,
Et puer redemptor orbis         And the Babe, the world's Redeemer
os sacratum protulit.              In her loving arms received,
Saeculorum saeculis.             Evermore and evermore.

Psallat altitudo caeli,           Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises;
psallite omnes angeli,             Angels and Archangels, sing!
Quidquid est virtutis usquam    Wheresoe’er ye be, ye faithful,
psallat in laudem Dei,                Let your joyous anthems ring,
Nulla linguarum silescat,          Every tongue his name confessing,
vox et omnis consonet.            Countless voices answering,
Saeculorum saeculis.               Evermore and evermore.

Tibi, Christe, sit cum Patre     Let the storm and summer sunshine,     
hagioque Pneumate                Gliding stream and sounding shore,
Hymnus, decus, laus perennis,  Sea and forest, frost and zephyr,   
gratiarum actio,                            Day and night their Lord alone;
Honor, virtus, victoria,                Let creation join to laud thee
regnum aeternaliter.                    Through the ages evermore,
Saeculorum saeculis.                  Evermore and evermore.

Here's a fuller choral version posted online, unbelievably, just six days ago:

Of the Father's Love Begotten - Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church Section Leaders & Guest Artists

 

As I found out over the past week, there are so many lovely performances to choose from. Here's my favorite organ prelude on this theme (uploaded just five days ago!) . . .

Wilbur Held: Chorale Prelude, "Of Our Father's Love Begotten" (Divinum Mysterium) - Faith Loewe (organ)

And a serene transformation for celtic harp, played by Will the Harper:

Of the Father's Love Begotten - arranged as a slow Jig

 And lastly, a gorgeous choral arrangement by Terry Schlenker (text is below) . . .
Of Our Father's Love Begotten (Divinum Mysterium) - St. Martin's Chamber Choir

Of the Father's love begotten,
Ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega,
He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see,
Evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd,
When the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving,
Bore the Saviour of our race;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face,
Evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time
Chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets
Promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord,
Evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him;
Angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him,
and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert ring,
Evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father,
And, O Holy Ghost, with Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving,
And unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory,
Evermore and evermore!