First of Cities, Bethlehem

First of ci­ties

Beth­le­hem

Hail

most fa­vored! When He came

Savior of the hu­man race

Thee the God­head deigned to grace.

Brighter than the sun’s bright car

And more glo­ri­ous was the star

Which in Thee new-born from high

Told the in­car­nate De­ity.

Him what time the Ma­gi­ans saw

Forth their ori­ent gifts they draw;

Prostrate they with vows un­fold

Myrrh

and frank­in­cense

and gold.

Frankincense and gold they bring

To an­nounce their God and king;

Spice of aro­ma­tic myrrh

To an­nounce His se­pul­cher.

Jesus

let Thy name be blest

To the Gen­tiles ma­ni­fest;

To the Fa­ther glo­ry be

With the Spir­it

and with Thee!