6. He came to earth despised and poor, Man to pity and restore And make us rich in heaven above, The angels’ equal, through His love. Hallelujah! 7. All this He did that He might prove To us sinners His great love; For this let Christendom adore And praise His name forevermore. Hallelujah! Martin Luther, 1543; R. Massie, tr., a. First stanza since 1370. 148 L. M. 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 of God, the mighty Lord, Upon the mother was outpoured; A virgin pure and undefiled In wondrous wise conceived a child. 4. The noble mother bare 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! From the Latin of Sedulius; Martin Luther, 1524; R. Massie, tr., a. 149 7, 6, 7, 6 A great and mighty wonder Our Christmas Festal brings: On earth, a lowly Infant, Behold the King of kings! 2. The Word is made incarnate, Descending from on high; And cherubim sing anthems To shepherds, from the sky. 3. And we with them triumphant Repeat the hymn again: “To God on high be glory And peace on earth to men!” 4. While thus they sing your Monarch, Those bright angelic bands, Rejoice, ye vales and mountains! Ye oceans, clap your hands! 5. Since all He comes to ransom, By all be He adored, The Infant born in Bethlehem, The Savior and the Lord! 6. All idol forms shall perish, And error shall decay, And Christ shall wield His scepter, Our Lord and God, for aye. From the Greek of Anatolius, c. 540; J. M. Neale, tr. 1862, a. 150 L. M. From heaven above to earth I come To bear good news to every home; Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will say and sing.