"Nowell Sing We," or "O Little Town of Bethlehem"
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Nowell sing we, both all and some
Now Rex pacificus is come. 1. Exortum Est in love and lysse. Now Christ His grace He gan us gysse, And with His body us bought to bliss, Both all and some. 2. De Fructu ventris of Mary bright, Both God and man in her alight, Out of disease He did us dight, Both all and some. 3. Puer natus to us was sent, To bliss us bought, fro bale us blent, And else to woe we had ywent, Both all and some. 4. Lux fulgebit with love and light, In Mary mild His pennon pight, In her took kind with manly might, Both all and some. 5. Gloria Tibi ay and bliss, God unto His grace He us wysse, The rent of heaven that we not miss, Both all and some. |
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 dark streets 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 gathered 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 all 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; o come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel! |