CPWI Hymnal ‎#665

665. Once in royal David's city

1 Once in royal David's city
stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby
in a manger for his bed:
Mary was that Mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little Child.

2 He came down to earth from heaven
who is God and Lord of all,
and his shelter was a stable,
and his cradle was a stall;
with the poor and mean and lowly
lived on earth our Saviour holy.

3 And through all his wondrous childhood
he would honour and obey,
love and watch the lowly Maiden,
in whose gentle arms he lay:
Christian children all must be
mild, obedient, good as he.

4 For he is our childhood's pattern,
day by day like us he grew,
he was little, weak, and helpless,
tears and smiles like us he knew;
and he feeleth for our sadness,
and he shareth in our gladness.

5 And our eyes at last shall see him,
through his own redeeming love,
for that Child so dear and gentle
is our Lord in heaven above;
and he leads his children on
to the place where he is gone.

6 Not in that poor lowly stable,
with the oxen standing by,
we shall see him; but in heaven,
set at God's right hand on high;
where like stars his children crowned
all in white shall wait around.

Text Information

• First Line: Once in royal David's city
• Author: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1818-1895
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2010
• Scripture:
  Matthew 2:1-6
  ;
  Luke 2:41-51
• Topic: Sacraments and Other Occasions: For the Young

Tune Information

• Name: IRBY
• Composer: Henry John Gauntlett, 1805-1876
• Meter: 8.7.8.7.7.7
• Key: G Major