A Little Child So Fair And Bright

Representative Text

1 A little child so fair and bright
Is sent to us from heaven;
Before or since that Christmas night
Such gift was never given;
But when the time of God was come,
His Son did leave His heav'nly home
And found on earth a mother;
This Morning Star, this child of fame,
In lowliness among us came
To be our Lord and Brother.

2 Exalted in eternity
Is Jesus Christ, our Savior!
All honor to our Father be
For His unequaled favor!
Each Christmas day anew we raise
Our voices unto Him in praise,
In joyful adoration;
Though poor our hallelujahs ring.
In heaven countless voices sing
With ours in jubilation.

Source: Hymnal for Church and Home (2nd ed.) #85

Translator (Danish): N. 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): P. C. Paulsen

Paul Christian Paulsen was born on March 26, 1881, in Alstrup, Jutland, Denmark. He emigrated to America in 1904, was ordained in 1911, and served as a Lutheran pastor in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, California, and Alberta, Canada. He died on July 26, 1948. NN, Hymnary Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: A little child so fair and bright
Title: A Little Child So Fair And Bright
Danish Title: Et lidet Barn saa lystelligt
Translator (Danish): N. F. S. Grundtvig
Translator (English): P. C. Paulsen
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.8.7.8.8.7
Source: German
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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The Cyber Hymnal #15256

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