Hymns to the Living God ‎#129

129. In the Bleak Midwinter

1 In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
in the bleak midwinter, long ago.

2 Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
heav'n and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign:
in the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
the Lord God incarnate, Jesus Christ.

3 Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
but His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
worshiped the Beloved with a kiss.

4 What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
if I were a wise man, I would do my part;
yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

Text Information

• First Line: In the bleak midwinter
• Title: In the Bleak Midwinter
• Author: Christina Rossetti (1872, alt.)
• Meter: Irregular
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2017
• Topic: Jesus Christ: Incarnation

Tune Information

• Name: CRANHAM
• Composer: Gustav Holst (1906, alt.)
• Meter: Irregular
• Key: F Major