1. Now praise we Christ, the Holy One,
The blessed Virgin Mary's Son,
Far as the glorious sun doth shine,
E'en to the world's remote confine.
2. He who Himself all things did make
A servant's form vouchsafed to take
That He as man mankind might win
And save His creatures from their sin.
3. The grace and power of God the Lord
Upon the mother was outpoured;
A virgin pure and undefiled
In wondrous wise conceived a child.
4. The noble mother bore a Son,-
For so did Gabriel's promise run,-
Whom John confessed and leaped with joy
Ere yet the mother knew her boy.
5. Upon a manger filled with hay
In poverty content He lay;
With milk was fed the Lord of all,
Who feeds the ravens when they call.
6. The heavenly choirs rejoice and raise
Their voice to God in songs of praise.
To humble shepherds is proclaimed
The Shepherd who the world hath framed.
7. All honor unto Christ be paid,
Pure Offspring of the favored maid,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
Till time in endless time be lost.
Hymn 104 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
Text: Phil. 2: 6,7
Author: Coelius Sedulius, c. 450
Poem titled: "Paean Alphabeticus de Christo"
German version by Martin Luther , 1524, ab.
Titled: A solis ortus cardine
Translated by: Richard Massie, 1854, alt.
Tune: Christum wir sollen loben schon
1st Published in: "Enchiridion"
Town: Erfurt, 1524