Text: | O Chief of Cities, Bethlehem |
Author: | Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348-413 |
Tune: | TRUTH FROM ABOVE |
1 O chief of cities, Bethlehem,
Of David’s crown the fairest gem,
But more to us than David’s name,
In you, as man, the Savior came.
2 Beyond the sun in splendor bright,
Above you stands a wondrous light
Proclaiming from the conscious skies
That here, in flesh, the Godhead lies.
3 The Wise Men, seeing him so fair,
Bow low before him, and with prayer
Their treasured eastern gifts unfold
Of incense, myrrh, and royal gold.
4 The golden tribute owns him king,
But frankincense to God they bring,
And last, prophetic sign, with myrrh
They shadow forth his sepulcher.
5 O Jesus, whom the Gentiles see,
With Father, Spirit, One in Three:
To you, O God, be glory giv’n
By saints on earth and saints in heav’n.
Text Information | |
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First Line: | O chief of cities, Bethlehem |
Title: | O Chief of Cities, Bethlehem |
Author: | Marcus Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348-413 |
Meter: | L M |
Language: | English |
Publication Date: | 1978 |
Topic: | Epiphany |
Source: | Tr. composite, alt. |
Notes: | Sts. 1-2, 4 tr. N. B. Smithers, c. 1879; st. 3 tr. C. Winfred Douglas, 1867-1944; st. 5 tr. John, marquess of Bute, c. 1879, alt. |
Tune Information | |
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Name: | TRUTH FROM ABOVE |
Meter: | L M |
Key: | g minor |
Source: | English folk tune |
Copyright: | Setting © Stainer and Bell Ltd. Used by permission of Galzxy Music corp. N.Y. sole U. S. Agent |