2 Though earth is yet beclouded, And Gentile nations shrouded
In darkness dense and drear,
The Lord, thy Life, hath blessed thee,
With loving grace caressed thee,
And crowned thy brow with honors dear.
3 On this broad earth the nations,
Throughout all generations,
That see the light of day,
Shall learn thy brighter glory;
And men shall haste before thee,
To see thy Light and bless its ray.
4 Behold the surging masses!
Thy Light doth draw all classes,
The world turns unto thee,
Thy fame hath reached their hearing,
Their sons and daughters, nearing,
Haste at thy shrine to bend the knee.
5 Thy heart shall leap within thee
When thou shalt see th' assembly,
Th' abundance of the sea;
Thine eyes shall feast on courses
Of myriad Gentile forces,
That come converted unto thee.
6 There are glad delegations
From Ephah and far nations,
And clouds from Midian;
With gold shall Saba cheer thee,
And incense; all that near thee
Shall sing thy praise, O chosen one!
JESUS! great and wondrous Star,
Both from Jacob's line and heaven,
Festive gifts from near and far
On this day to Thee are given:
Oh! accept most graciously
What I humbly offer Thee.
2 Saba bringeth gold to Thee;
Lord, I give what Thou hast given:
Gold of faith receive from me-
Precious gold that counts in heaven!
Prove it, purge it free from dross
In the furnace of the cross.
3 Take the frankincense of prayer;
May it prove a sweet oblation!
Heart and lips shall everywhere
Strive to meet Thy approbation;
Hear and heed my prayer, and then
Seal it with Thy "Yea: Amen!"
4 Take contrition, bitter myrrh;
O how sorely my sins grieve me!
Pardon, healing, peace restore;
Thou art true, and wilt relieve me.
Lord, I praise Thee! and believe
Thou my offering dost receive.
WHY, Herod, unrelenting foe!
Doth Christ the Lord's birth move thee so?
He doth no earthly kingdom crave,
Who unto us heaven's kingdom gave.
2 The star before the wise men goes,
This light to them the true Light shows;
They, by the three gifts which they bring,
Declare this Child: God, Man, and King.
3 He was baptized in Jordan's flood,
The holy, heavenly Lamb of God,
And He, who did no sin, thereby
Cleansed us from all iniquity.
4 And now a miracle is done;
Six water pots are there of stone,
Christ speaks the Word with power divine,
The water changes into wine.
5 All honor, praise to Thee be paid,
O Christ, born of the virgin maid,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
Till time in endless time be lost!
JESUS, King of glory!
Both David's God and son,
Thy realm endures forever,
In heaven is fixed Thy throne:
Help, that in earth's dominions
Throughout, from pole to pole,
Thy realm may spread salvation
To each benighted soul.
2 The Eastern sages, bringing
Their tribute-gifts to Thee,
Bear witness to Thy kingdom,
And humbly bow the knee.
The Eastern star points to Thee,
As doth the inspired Word,
Hence joyously we hail Thee: Our blest Redeemer, Lord! 3 Thou art a mighty Monarch, As by the Word we're told, Yet carest Thou but little
For earthly goods or gold; On no proud steed Thou ridest, Thou wear'st no jewelled crown, Nor dwell'st in lordly castle,
But bearest scoff and frown.
4 Yet art Thou decked with beauty,
With rays of glorious light;
Thou ever teem'st with goodness,
And all Thy ways are right.
Vouchsafe to shield Thy people
With Thy almighty arm,
That they may dwell in safety
From those who mean but harm.
5 Ah, look on me with pity!
Though I am weak and poor, Admit me to Thy kingdom,
To dwell there, blest and sure.
Vouchsafe to keep and guide me
Safe from all evil foes,
From sin, and death, and Satan;
Free me from all my woes.
6 And bid Thy Word within me
Shine as the fairest star;
Keep sin and all false doctrine
From all Thy people far;
Help us confess Thee truly,
And with Thy Christendom,
2 Yes, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee,
E’en now, in ev'ry place,
Where Thy true Word has promised,
That they should see Thy face.
Thou yet wilt gently grant us,
Who gather round Thee here,
In faith's strong arms to bear Thee,
As once that aged seer.
3 Be Thou our joy, our brightness,
That shines 'mid pain and loss,
Our sun in times of terror,
The glory round our cross;
A glow in sinking spirits,
A sunbeam in distress,
Physician, friend in sickness,
In death our happiness.
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