Oh! Let Us All Be Glad Today

For Christmas Eve

Words: Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her, by Martin Luther
From Joseph Klug's Gesangsbuch, 1535
Notes and Translations: Notes for Vom Himmel Hoch Da Komm Ich Her

Text based on Luke 2: 1-18

Translation by John Hunt

Music: "St. Gregory," LM, German
"Festus," LM, From a German Chorale

Source: George S. Barrett, ed., Congregational Church Hymnal (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1887), #739, p. 593.

1 O! let us all be glad to-day,
And with the shepherds homage pay:
Come, see what God to us hath given,
His only Son, sent down from heaven.

2 Awake, my soul! from sadness rise,
Come, see what in the manger lies;
Who is this smiling infant Child ?—
'Tis little Jesus, sweet and mild.

3 Twice welcome, O Thou heavenly Guest,
To save a world with sin distressed;
Com'st Thou in lowly guise for me?
What homage shall I give to Thee!

4 Ah! Lord eternal, heavenly King.
Hast Thou become so mean a thing;
And hast Thou left Thy blissful seat,
To rest where colts and oxen eat?

5 Were this wide world much wider made,
With gold and costly gems arrayed;
E'en then, by far too mean 'twould be,
To make a little crib for Thee.

6 No silken robes surround Thy head.
A bunch of hay is all Thy bed!
Where Thou, a King so rich and great.
Art bright as in Thy heavenly state.

7 Jesus, my Saviour, come to me—
Make here a little crib for Thee:
A bed make in this heart of mine,
That I may aye remember Thine.

8 Then from my soul glad songs shall ring—
Of Thee each day I'll gaily sing:
The glad hosannas will I raise,
From heart that loves to sing Thy praise.

Amen.

Sheet Music from George S. Barrett, ed., Congregational Church Hymnal (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1887), #739, pp. 592-593.

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