Jesu, The Father's Only Son

Words: Christe Redemptor Omnium, Anonymous, 6th Century
translated from Latin to English by John Mason Neale, 1852.

Compare: O Saviour Of Our Fallen Race and O Christ, Redeemer Of Our Race

Music: "Von Himmel Hoch," from Geistliche Lieder, by Valentin Schumann (Leipzig, Germany: 1539); harmony by Johann Sebastian Bach
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML

Source: George Radcliffe Woodward, ed, Songs of Syon (London: Schott & Co., Third Edition, 1908), # 20

1. Jesu¹, the Father’s Only Son,
Whose death for all redemption won;
Before the worlds of God most High
Begotten all ineffably.

2. The Father’s Light and Splendor Thou,
Their endless Hope to Thee that bow;
Accept the prayers and praise to-day
That through the world Thy servants pay.

3. Salvation’s Author, call to mind
How, taking form of humankind,
Born of a virgin undefil'd,
Thou in man’s flesh becam’st a Child.

4. Thus testifies the present day,
Through every year in long array,
That Thou, Salvation’s source alone,
Proceededst from the Father’s throne.

5. Whence sky, and stars, and sea’s abyss,
And earth, and all that therein is,
Shall still, with laud and carol meet,
The Author of Thine Advent greet.

6. And we who, by Thy precious blood
From sin redeem'd, are marked for God,
On this the day that saw Thy birth,
Sing the new song of ransomed earth.

7. For that Thine Advent glory be,
O Jesu, virgin born, to Thee;
With Father, and with Holy Ghost,
From men and from the heavenly host. Amen

Note:

1. Or: Jesus