"Now Praise We Christ, the Holy One"

                    by Martin Luther, 1483-1546

                               Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        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.



        


        Notes:

        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

 

           

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