» »

Bethlehem, the chosen city of our God

1 Bethlehem, the chosen city of our God,
where the stem of faithful Jesse duly flowered:
there Messiah in a manger humbly lay,
born of Mary, born for us on Christmas Day!

2 Israel's land would suffer much in grief and pain
till the hand of God should touch the earth again;
then the royal star of Jacob would arise,
David's sceptre soon appear before their eyes.

3 Judah's hills their age-long vigil silent kept,
God fulfilled the pledge while Israel sullen slept;
only shepherds watching bravely through the night
found their Shepherd, stooped to see the infant light.

4 Bethlehem, the chosen city of our God,
where the stem of faithful Jesse duly flowered:
there Messiah in a manger humbly lay,
born of Mary, born for us on Christmas Day!

CCL# 988729