Gentle Star of Bethlehem

Gentle star of Beth­le­hem!

Guided by thy light I go;

Lead me by thy lam­bent flame:

Show the in­fant Je­sus

show!

Star! above all other stars out­vy­ing

Shine up­on His place of rest

Humbly in a man­ger ly­ing

On His vir­gin mo­ther’s breast.

There He sleeps

the great

the low­ly

Heav’n’s in­car­nate

earth’s de­sire;

Gather round Him

an­gels holy

Bow be­fore Him

son and sire.

Eastern sag­es come and meet;

Bend in awe which dares not stir;

Pour your of­fer­ings at His feet

Gold and frank­in­cense and myrrh!

Shepherds

keep­ing watch by night

Still abid­ing in the field

See! an an­gel clothed in light

All in ma­jes­ty re­vealed.

Hark! the heav­en­ly mes­sage sound­ing

Joyful tid­ings ev­ery word;

Go! with hearts in glad­ness bound­ing

Go and wor­ship Christ the Lord!

Earth! earth! earth! with Heav­en unit­ing

Shout the tri­umphs of the day!

Men with an­gels

join in­vit­ing

Love’s own hal­le­lu­jah’s lay!

Angels fill the up­per sky

Mortals swell the glow­ing strain—

Glory be to God on high

Peace on earth

good will to men!

Holy Je­sus

in Thy meek­ness

Stooping from Thy throne di­vine

Power brought down to hu­man weak­ness;

Might and ma­jes­ty are Thine!

Babe of Beth­l’em

we ad­ore Thee!

All man­kind in Thee shall trust

All earth’s mil­lions bow be­fore Thee

And Thy foes shall lick the dust!

Hail! in­car­nate Sav­ior

hail!

God and man—the liv­ing Word;

By Thy might Thou shalt pre­vail

Bethle’m’s babe is Da­vid’s Lord.

Gird Thy sword up­on Thy thigh

Ride in glo­ry and re­nown.

Conquering Je­sus! God most high!

Wear the uni­vers­al crown!