"O Little Town of Bethlehem"
                         by Phillips Brooks, 1835-1893
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. O little town of Bethlehem,
        How still we see thee lie!
        Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
        The silent stars go by;
        Yet in thy darkness shineth
        The everlasting Light;
        The hopes and fears of all the years
        Are met in thee tonight.

        2. For Christ is born of Mary,
        And fathered all above,
        While mortals sleep, the angels keep
        Their watch of wondering love.
        O morning stars, together
        Proclaim the holy birth
        And praises sing to God, the King,
        And peace to men on earth.

        3. How silently, how silently,
        The wondrous Gift is given!
        So God imparts to human hearts
        The blessings of His heaven.
        No ear may hear His coming,
        But in this world of sin,
        Where meek souls will receive Him still,
        The dear Christ enters in.

        4. O holy Child of Bethlehem,
        Descend to us, we pray;
        Cast out our sin and enter in,
        Be born in us today.
        We hear the Christmas angels
        The great glad tidings tell:
        Oh, come to us, abide with us,
        Our Lord Immanuel!

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #647 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Micah 5:2
        Author: Phillips Brooks, 1868, ab.
        Composer: Lewis Henry Redner, 1868
        Tune: "St. Louis"
This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Marilyn F. Gardner and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu
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