"From heaven above to earth I come."
                         by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
                                  Text From:
                       THE HYMNS OF MARTIN LUTHER
           (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1883), pp. 60-61



        1. From heaven above to earth I come,
        To bear good news to every home;
        Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
        Whereof I now will say and sing.

        2. To you, this night, is born a child
        Of Mary, chosen Mother mild;
        This tender child of lowly birth,
        Shall be the joy of all your earth.

        3. 'Tis Christ our God, who far on high
        Had heard your sad and bitter cry;
        Himself will your salvation be,
        Himself from sin will make you free.

        4. He brings those blessings long ago
        Prepared by God for all below;
        That in his heavenly kingdom blest
        You may with us forever rest.

        5. These are the tokens ye shall mark,
        The swaddling-clothes and manger dark;
        There shall ye find the young child laid,
        By whom the heavens and earth were made.

        6. Now let us all, with gladsome cheer,
        Follow the shepherds, and draw near
        To see this wondrous gift of God,
        Who hath his own dear Son bestowed.

        7. Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
        What is it in yon manger lies?
        Who is this child, so young and fair?
        The blessed Christ-child lieth there!

        8. Welcome to earth, thou noble guest,
        Through whom e'en wicked men are blest!
        Thou com'st to share our misery,
        What can we render, Lord, to thee!

        9. Ah, Lord, who hast created all,
        How hast thou made thee weak and small,
        To lie upon the coarse dry grass,
        The food of humble ox and ass.

        10. And were the world ten times as wide,
        With gold and jewels beautified,
        It would be far too small to be
        A little cradle, Lord, for thee.

        11. Thy silk and velvet are coarse hay,
        Thy swaddling bands the mean array,
        With which even thou, a King so great,
        Art clad as with a robe of state.

        12. Thus hath it pleased thee to make plain
        The truth to us, poor fools and vain,
        That this world's honor, wealth and might
        Are naught and worthless in thy sight.

        13. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy child,
        Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
        Here in my poor heart's inmost shrine,
        That I may evermore be thine.

        14. My heart for very joy doth leap,
        My lips no more can silence keep,
        I too must sing, with joyful tongue,
        That sweetest ancient cradle song:-

        15. Glory to God in highest heaven,
        Who unto man his Son hath given,
        While angles sing, with pious mirth,
        A glad New Year to all the earth.

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        Notes:
        Text: Luke, ii
        Hymn XXIX from "The Hymns of Martin Luther",  "A Children's
		Christmas Song of the little child Jesus, taken from the
		second chapter of Luke, by Dr. Martin Luther." Said to
		have been written by him for his little son Hans.
        Author: Martin Luther, 1535
        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, amended
        Titled: "Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her."
        Melody: 1535? 1543.
        1st Published in: Joseph Klug's "Gesangsbuch", 1535?
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain.  You may
        freely distribute, copy or print this text.  Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
        Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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