A Babe Is Born In Bethlehem

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A babe is born in Bethlehem, Bethlehem (Aaberg)

Translator (Danish): Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig; Translator (English): J. C. Aaberg
Tune: PUER NATUS (51512)
Published in 8 hymnals

Representative Text

A babe is born in Bethlehem,
Bethlehem,
Rejoice, rejoice Jerusalem;
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

A lowly virgin gave Him birth,
Gave Him birth,
Who rules the heavens and the earth;
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

He in a simple manger lay,
Manger lay,
Whom angels praise with joy for aye;
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

And wise men from the East did bring,
East did bring,
Gold, myrrh and incense to the King;
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Now all our fears have passed away,
Passed away,
The Savior blest was born today;
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

God’s blessed children we became,
We became,
And shall in heaven praise His name;
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

There like the angels we shall be,
We shall be,
And shall the Lord in glory see;
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

With gladsome praises we adore,
We adore,
Our Lord and Savior evermore;
Hallelujah, hallelujah.

Source: Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark #73

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Translator (Danish): Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig

Nicolai Frederik Severin Grundtvig was the son of a pastor, and was born at Udby, in Seeland, in 1783. He studied in the University of Copenhagen from 1800-1805; and, like some other eminent men, did not greatly distinguish himself; his mind was too active and his imagination too versatile to bear the restraint of the academic course. After leaving the university he took to teaching; first in Langeland, then (1808) in Copenhagen. Here he devoted his attention to poetry, literature, and Northern antiquities. In 1810 he became assistant to his father in a parish in Jutland. The sermon he preached at his ordination, on the subject "Why has the Lord's word disappeared from His house," attracted much attention, which is rarely the case with "pro… Go to person page >

Translator (English): J. C. Aaberg

Jens Christian Aaberg (b. Moberg, Denmark, 1877; d. Minneapolis, MN, 1970) immigrated to the United States in 1901. Educated at Grand View College and Seminary in Des Moines, Iowa, he entered the ministry of the Danish Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and served congregations in Marinette, Wisconsin; Dwight, Illinois; and Minneapolis, Minnesota. Aaberg wrote Hymns and Hymnwriters of Denmark (1945), translated at least eighty hymns from Danish into English, and served on four hymnal committees. In 1947 King Frederick of Denmark awarded him the Knight Cross of Denmark. --Psalter Hymnal Handbook, 1987 Go to person page >

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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	A babe is born in Bethlehem, Bethlehem (Aaberg)
Title:	A Babe Is Born In Bethlehem
Danish Title:	Et barn er født i Betlehem (Puer natus in Bethlehem)
Translator (Danish):	Nikolai F. S. Grundtvig
Translator (English):	J. C. Aaberg
Meter:	8.4.8.4.4
Source:	Latin, 14th century
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain