For Christmas

Words: "Fröhlich soll mein Herze springen," Paul Gerhardt, from Crüger's Praxis Pietatis Melica, #104, 1656
Translated by Dr. Benjamin Hall Kennedy (1804-1889), 1863. Per Hopkins, this version is "altered from Hymnologia Christiana."

Music: "Proper Melody (First published in 1533)
Harmony altered from Dr. F. Layriz

Source: J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #58, pp. 90-1.

1. All my heart with joy is springing,
    While in air
    Everywhere
Angel choirs are singing.
Hear them to the shepherds telling:
    "Christ is born!
    On this morn
God with man is dwelling."

2. To this lower world descendeth,
    From above,
    He whose love
All our sorrows endeth.
He who breath and being gave us,
    Quits the skies,
    Lives and dies
In our flesh to save us.

3. Christ our Lamb so meek and loving
    Dries our tears,
    Calms our fears,
All our sins removing;
Christ our Lamb, who suffers with us;
    He can quell
    Death and hell,
And to peace restore us.

4. Hark, from yon dark manger lowly,
    Breezes soft
    Seem to waft
Gentle words and holy:
'Sigh no more, away with sadness
    Brethren dear;
    I am here,
Bringing hope and gladness.'

5. Come ye now, and kneel before Him;
    Mortals all
    Great and small,
Worship and adore Him:
Love your King, whose love invites you:
    Lo, His star
    From afar
To His dwelling lights you.

6. Ye, whom galling want oppresses
    Here ye find
    Comfort kind,
Balm for your distresses:
Noblest treasures here are given;
    Riches true
    Wait for you
Poor of Christ, in heaven.

7. Ye who strive with fierce temptation,
    Sorrow-stung
    Conscience-wrung,
Here is consolation:
For the woes which men inherit
    Christ can feel,
    Christ will heal
Every wounded spirit.

8. Kind Redeemer, knit Thee to us;
    Quelling sin
    Reign within,
With Thy grace renew us:
Make us Thine by true repentance;
    Let us hear,
    Free from fear,
Lord, Thy final sentence.

9. Ours be Thy pure love, O Saviour,
    Ours Thy faith
    Strong in death,
Ours Thy meek behaviour;
Here let us, on Thee depending,
    In Thee die,
    With Thee fly
To the bliss unending.

Sheet Music from J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #58, pp. 90-1.