A Boy Is Born in Bethlehem
For Christmas
Words and Music:
Puer
natus in Bethlehem, a 14th
Century Latin Hymn
See Puer natus in
Bethlehem from Dreves, with notes.
Music: "Puer Natus in Bethlehem"
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer /
PDF
Carol 710,
Rev.
Charles Lewis Hutchins,
Carols Old and Carols New
(Boston: Parish Choir, 1916)
1. A Boy is Born in Bethlehem!
Allelujah! Allelujah!
And joy is in Jerusalem,
Allelujah! Allelujah!
2. And there He lay in manger poor,
Allelujah! Allelujah!
Whose rein shall last for ever-more,
Allelujah! Allelujah!
3. The ass and ox and all the heard,
Allelujah! Allelujah!
Knew well that Boy to be the Lord!
Allelujah! Allelujah!
4. And kings from out the East there were,
Allelujah! Allelujah!
With gold and frankincense and myrrh
Allelujah! Allelujah!
5. He lived like us in form and dress,
Allelujah! Allelujah!
Without our taint of wickedness.
Allelujah! Allelujah!
6. He came our souls to purify,
Allelujah! Allelujah!
and bring us safe to bliss on high
Allelujah! Allelujah!
7. Therefore let us with one accord,
Allelujah! Allelujah!
On this His Birthday praise the Lord!
Allelujah! Allelujah!
Sheet Music from Charles L. Hutchins, Carols Old and
Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), Carol 710.
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer /
PDF
Editor's Note:
A similar hymn translated by Percy Dearmer from 16th Century German begins:
A Boy was born in Bethlehem,
Rejoice for that, Jerusalem!
Alleluia!
The translation can be found in the Oxford Book of Carols, and is copyright 1928.
Another hymn by Catherine Baird has this first verse:
A boy was born in Bethlehem
With tiny hands and downy head;
The shepherds came to worship him
Asleep within a manger bed.
Despite the first verse, it is unrelated to Puer Natus in Bethlehem. See: A Boy Was Born in Bethlehem.
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