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1. What child is this, who, laid to rest,
- On Mary’s lap is sleeping,
- Whom angels greet with anthems sweet
- While shepherds watch are keeping?
- This, this is Christ the King,
- Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;1
- Haste, haste to bring Him laud,2
- The babe, the son of Mary!
2. Why lies He in such mean estate
- Where ox and ass are feeding?
- Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
- The silent Word is pleading.3
- Nails, spear shall pierce him through,4
- The Cross be borne for me, for you;5
- Hail, hail the Word Made Flesh,6
- The babe, the son of Mary!
3. So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
- Come, peasant, king, to own Him!7
- The King of Kings salvation brings;
- Let loving hearts enthrone Him!8
- Raise, raise the song on high!4
- The virgin sings her lullaby.9
- Joy! joy! for Christ is born,
- The babe, the son of Mary!
— Lutheran Service Book
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Alternative renderings and sources:
- 1Whom shepherds worship and angels sing (NEH, CP, EP)
- 2Haste, haste to bring Him praise (NEH, CP, EP)
- 3Come, have no fear; God's son is here,
- His love all loves exceeding: (NEH, CP, EP)
- 4Some versions replace the last half of the second and third stanzas with "This, this is Christ the King…". (UMH, TH)
- 5The cross he bore for me, for you (EP)
- 6Hail, hail, the Saviour comes, (NEH, CP, EP)
- 7All tongues and peoples own him, (NEH, CP, EP)
- 8Let every heart enthrone Him: (NEH, CP, EP)
- 9While Mary sings a lullaby, (NEH, CP, EP)
- EP: English Praise
- NEH: New English Hymnal (40)
- CP: Common Praise (74) (the most recent edition of the Hymns Ancient and Modern series of hymnals)
- UMH: United Methodist Hymnal
- TH: The Hymnal 1982
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