the great god of heaven

The great God of heaven is come down to earth,

his mother a virgin, and sinless his birth;

the Father eternal his Father alone:

he sleeps in the manger; he reigns on the throne:




Then let us adore him, and praise his great love:

to save us poor sinners he came from above.




A babe on the breast of a maiden he lies,

yet sits with the Father on high in the skies;

before him their faces the seraphim hide,

while Joseph stands waiting, unscared, by his side:




Lo! here is Emmanuel, here is the Child,

the Son that was promised to Mary so mild;

whose pow'r and dominion shall ever increase,

the Prince that shall rule o'er a kingdom of peace:




The Wonderful Counsellor, boundless in might,

the Father's own image, the beam of his light;

behold him now wearing the likeness of man,

weak, helpless, and speechless, in measure a span:




O wonder of wonders, which none can unfold:

the Ancient of Days is an hour or two old;

the maker of all things is made of the earth,

man is worshipped by angels, and God comes to birth:




Then let us adore him, and praise his great love:

to save us poor sinners he came from above.




The word in bliss of the Godhead remains,

yet in flesh comes to suffer the keenest of pains;

he is that he was, and for ever shall be,

but becomes that he was not, for you and for me