The Cyber Hymnal ‎#12470

12470. Our Royal Christmas Gift

1 This was the royal gift to men—
A sweet and tender child,
Reposing in His mother’s arms
In beauty undefiled.
A child, yes, He was born to us,
Our Babe of Bethlehem,
Who, coming to our low estate
Laid off His diadem.

Refrain:
He is our royal Christmas gift,
And as we now believe,
We take the treasure to our hearts,
And all His love receive.

2 A son to us was giv’n, and He
A child to manhood grew,
A kingly brother to us all,
Divine, and strong, and true.
A royal, princely child He came,
The heir to realms unknown,
He came to bend our hearts to His,
And take us to His throne. [Refrain]

3 He came without His crown, and took
On earth the lowest place,
That He might lead triumphant home
A royal, ransomed race.
Our child, our brother, and our king,
Our treasure and our love,
Our guide amid these desert sands,
Our advocate above. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: This was the royal gift to men
• Title: Our Royal Christmas Gift
• Author: Charles C. Converse
• Refrain First Line: He is our royal Christmas gift
• Language: English
• Source: Augsburg Songs for Sunday school and Other Services (Philadelphia: Lutheran Publication Society, 1885)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: CHEVY CHASE
• Composer: Charles Crozat Converse (1885)
• Meter: 86.86.86 D
• Key: D Major
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Some hymnals show the composer as Karl Reden, one of Converse's pseudonymns