To Us Is Born A Little Child

For Christmas

Version 1

(from the German)

Geborn ist uns ein Kindelein

Author unknown; from the Köln Gesungbuch.

Melody: 15th Century

1. To us is born a little Child
Of Mary, maiden mother mild,
Yule time a merry season is,¹
Babe Jesus our delight and bliss.

Refrain:
O Jesus darling of my heart,²
How rich in mercy, Babe Thou art!

2. Strange sight!  within a stable old,
Lo! God is born in want and cold,
O selfish world, this Babe, I say,
Doth put thee to the blush today. Refrain

3. Now angels joyful hymns upraise,
And God's own Son with carols praise.
To Bethlehem the shepherds fare,
And firstlings of their flock they bear. Refrain

4. With gladsome voice on Jesus call,
Ye spirits of the righteous all:
Today is born Emmanuel
He make your souls at ease to dwell! Refrain

5. With Holy Ghost Him praise above,
Who gave His Son, in tender love;
And bless Him for that lovely May,
Of whom the Lord was born today. Refrain

Notes:

1. Or: Yule-tide a merry season is, Return

2. Or: O Jesu, darling of my heart, Return

Sheet Music from Rev. Charles Lewis Hutchins, Carols Old and Carols New (Boston: Parish Choir, 1916), Carol #731
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Sheet Music from George Ratcliffe Woodward, The Cowley Carol Book for Christmas, Easter, and Ascensiontide, First Series (London: A. R. Mowbray & Co., Ltd., 1902, Revised And Enlarged Edition, 1929), Carol #23
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Also found in G. R. Woodward, ed., The Hymns and Carols for Christmas-tide (London: H. Grice, 1897), Carol #23, pp. 31-32. This verse was added between verses 2 and 3 above:

The Child (so wide his mercies are)
Peace, joy and bliss doth bring from far:
Before his crib in awe to him,
Your faces veil, ye Cherubim.

See: To Us Is Born A Little Child (from the Latin).

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