måndag 20 juni 2011

In the bleak midwinter





1. In the bleak mid-winter
frosty wind made moan,
earth stood hard as iron,
water like a stone;
snow had fallen, snow on snow,
snow on snow,
in the bleak mid-winter
long ago.

2. Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him
nor earth sustain;
heaven and earth shall flee away
when He comes to reign:
in the bleak mid-winter
a stable-place sufficed
the Lord God Almighty,
Jesus Christ.

3. Enough for Him, whom cherubim
worship night and day,
a breastful of milk
and a mangerful of hay;
enough for Him, whom angels
fall down before,
the ox and ass and camel
which adore.

4. Angels and archangels
may have gathered there,
cherubim and seraphim
thronged the air;
but only His mother
in her maiden bliss,
worshipped the Beloved
with a kiss.

5. What can I give Him,
poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd
I would bring a lamb,
if I were a wise man
I would do my part,
yet what I can I give Him,
give my heart.

O come, o come, Emmanuel





1. O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

2. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice...

3. O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan’s tyranny;
from depths of hell Thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave.
Rejoice...

4. O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
our spirits by Thine advent here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and deaths dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice...

5. O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Rejoice...

6. O come, O come, great Lord of might,
who to Thy tribes on Sinai´s height
in ancient times once gave the law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice...

7. O come, Thou Root of Jesse´s tree,
an ensign of Thy people be;
before Thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on Thy mercy call.
Rejoice...

8. O come, Desire of nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid Thou our sad divisions cease,
and be Thyself our King of Peace.
Rejoice...