O Christmas Night

Words: O Kersnacht, Henricus Selyns, 1663; translated from Dutch to English by Howard Murphy, 1865. The lyrics were originally written as a wedding song for a couple named Aegidius Luyck and Judith van Isendoorn (see the frequently omitted fifth verse:

Music: "Kersnacht," Dutch traditional melody; harmonized by Van Duyse in Die melodie van het Nederlandische lied, 1902 .

1. O Christmas night! Day's light transcending,
Who no beginning had or end
Till He a man became, was God.
Then He Who ne'er before was human
Was born in Bethlehem of woman,
When nips the frost the verdant sod.

2. This richest Babe comes poor in being,
More pearled within than to the seeing
With diadem and royal power;
He takes no heed of greater places,
But that small spot alone embraces,
Where light illumes the midnight hour.

3. This Prince, do they desire to find Him?
They're worn out swaddling clothes that bind Him.
A manger, spread with hay's His bed.
His throne is higher than the highest,
Yet He among the cattle lieth;
What Him to such a lot has led?

4. Now seeks He God with chaste affection
Who takes before such crib direction,
Are better than this Bethlehem,
Which Christ no resting place shall give;
For they, the after life, shall live
With Him, in Jerusalem.

5. And as they bring this child before them
Luyck comes and marries Isendoorn,
Standing before this Christ-like crib;
And finds when her consent is shewn,
Flesh of his flesh, bone of his bone,
For Judith is his second rib.

 

 

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