1. From Heav'n above to Earth I come
To bear good news to ev'ry home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I will now say and sing:
2. To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This little child of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the Earth.
3. ’Tis Christ our God, who far on high
Hath heard your sad and bitter cry;
Himself will your salvation be;
Himself from sin will make you free.
4. He brings those blessings, long ago
Prepared by God for all below;
Henceforth his kindgom open stands
To you, as to the angel bands.
5. These are the tokens ye shall mark:
The swaddling clothes and manger dark;
There shall ye find the young child laid,
By whom the heav’ns and earth were made.
6. Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Follow the shepherds and draw near
To see this wondrous gift of God
Who hath his only Son bestowed.
7. Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
Who is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this child, so young and fair?
The blessèd Christ child lieth there.
8. Welcome to Earth, thou noble guest,
Through whom e’en wicked men are blest!
Thou com’st to share our misery.
What can we render, Lord, to thee?
9. Were Earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She were yet far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for thee.
10. Ah! dearest Jesus, holy child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for thee.
11. My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I too must raise with joyful tongue
That sweetest, ancient cradle song:
12. Glory to God in highest Heav’n,
Who unto us his Son hath giv’n!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new song to all the Earth.
Source: Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship #28
First Line: | From heaven above to earth I come To bear good news to every home |
Title: | From Heaven Above to Earth I Come |
German Title: | Von Himmel hoch, da komm' ich her |
Author: | Martin Luther (1535) |
Translator: | Catherine Winkworth (1855) |
Meter: | 8.8.8.8 |
Language: | English |
Copyright: | Public Domain |
Scripture References:
all st. = Luke 2:10-14
Written by Martin Luther (PHH 336) for his family's Christmas Eve devotions, this text (originally "Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her") was first published in Joseph Klug's (PHH 126) Geistliche Lieder (1535) in fifteen stanzas. Luther intended that stanzas 1-7 be sung by a man dressed as an angel and stanzas 8-15 by children.
As the basis for his first stanza, Luther revised the old folk song "Aus Fremden Landenkomm ich hier." Also called a "garland" song, "Aus Fremden" was used traditionally as a chorus in a game of riddles that involved the taking of garlands if a riddle was not solved.
The English translation is primarily the work of Catherine Winkworth (PHH 194), from her Lyra Germanica (1855). However, numerous hymnal editors have revised her translation. From the original fifteen stanzas the Psalter Hymnal Revision Committee chose to include five-the familiar narrative stanzas based on Luke 2:10-14.
Stanzas 1-4 contain the angels' words to the shepherds. Stanza 5 is the angel chorus (Luke 2:14), which we all sing as we share in the shepherds' and angels' joy. (For a similar narrative Christmas hymn on the same biblical text, see 215.)
Liturgical Use:
Christmas Day worship service; Christmas festival of lessons and carols, especially with the dramatic performance style Luther intended (suggested above); church school programs.
--Psalter Hymnal Handbook