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.