Together in Song ‎#291

291. Earth has many a noble city

1 Earth has many a noble city -
Bethlehem alone excels:
from it came the Lord from heaven,
came to rule his Israel.

2 Fairer than the sun at morning
was the star that told his birth,
to the world its God announcing
seen in human form on earth.

3 Eastern sages at his cradle
make their offerings rich and rare;
see them give in deep devotion,
gold and frankincense and myrrh:

4 sacred gifts of mystic meaning -
frankincense to God disclose,
gold the King of kings proclaiming,
myrrh his sepulcher foreshows.

5 Jesus, whom the gentiles worshipped
at your glad epiphany,
now to you with God the Father
and the Spirit glory be.

Text Information

• First Line: Earth has many a noble city
• Author: Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, 348-c. 413
• Paraphraser: Edward Caswall, 1814-78 (alt.)
• Meter: 87.87
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1999
• Scripture:
  Matthew 21:1-11
  ;
  Micah 5:2-5
• Topic: Epiphany; Jesus Christ: Incarnation

Tune Information

• Name: STUTTGART
• Meter: 87.87
• Key: F Major
• Source: Melody adapted from a chorale in 'Psalmodia Sacra', Gotha, 1715
• Notes: A different arrangement will be found at No. 349