Bethlehem, of Noblest Cities

Bethlehem

of nob­lest ci­ties

None can once with thee com­pare;

Thou alone the Lord from Heav­en

Didst for us in­car­nate bear.

Fairer than the sun at morn­ing

Was the star that told His birth;

To the lands their God an­nounc­ing

Hid be­neath a form of earth.

By its lam­bent beau­ty guid­ed

See

the east­ern kings ap­pear;

See them bend

their gifts to of­fer—

Gifts of in­cense

gold

and myrrh.

Offerings of mys­tic mean­ing!

Incense doth the God dis­close;

Gold a roy­al child pro­claim­eth;

Myrrh a fu­ture tomb fore­shows.

Holy Je­su! in Thy bright­ness

To the Gen­tile world dis­played!

With the Fa­ther

and the Spir­it

Endless praise to Thee be paid.