Matthew 2:2-16
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[Mat 2:2] Beautiful Star
The wise men of old saw a beautiful star,
Led on by its glory they traveled afar;
O’er mountain and valley ’til wanderings past,
Their gifts at the feet of the Savior they cast.Refrain
Beautiful beautiful star of the east
Beautiful beautiful star of the east
Scatter the shadows of sin far away,
Lead us to Jesus, the Star of the day.The star of the east was the herald of day,
The light everlasting that fades not away;
Its beams rising higher, O hasten and see,
The Light of the world shines for you and for me.Refrain
The star of His Word guards His people today,
To sweet joy in Jesus ’tis leading the way.
Then still let us follow and lovingly bring
Our hearts and our off’rings to Jesus our King.Refrain
To those who in darkness are straying afar,
We’ll show the pure rays of the beautiful star.
We’ll tell them of Jesus, that at His dear feet,
The saved of all nations shall joyfully meet.Refrain
Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:2] Christians, Lo, The Star Appeareth
Christians, lo, the star appeareth;
Lo ’tis yet Messiah’s day;
Still with tribute treasure laden
Come the wise men on their way.Where a life is spent in service,
Walking where the Master trod,
There is scattered myrrh most fragrant
For the blessèd Christ of God.Whoso bears his brother’s burden,
Whoso shares another’s woe,
Brings his frankincense to Jesus
With the men of long ago.When we soothe earth’s weary children
Tending best the least of them,
’Tis the Lord himself we worship,
Bringing gold to Bethlehem.Christians, lo, the star appeareth
Leading still the ancient way;
Christians, onward with your treasure;
It is still Messiah’s day.source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:2] King Might Miss The Guiding Star, A
A king might miss the guiding star,
A wise man’s foot might stumble;
For Bethlehem is very far
From all except the humble.
’Tis Christmas Day! ’Tis Christmas Day!
And Christian hearts are humble.Some pilgrims seek a hallowed shrine;
Some soldiers march to danger;
Some travelers seek an inn—its sign
“The Baby in a manger.”
When Christ was born on Christmas morn,
They laid Him in a manger.There is no palace in that place,
Nor any seat of learning,
No hilltop vision of God’s face,
No altar candles burning:
O come and see our Christmas tree
And Christmas candles burning.But he who gets to Bethlehem
Shall hear the oxen lowing;
And, if he humbly kneel with them,
May catch far trumpets blowing;
From far away, on Christmas Day,
May hear God’s trumpets blowing.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:2] Silver Star, The
On the brow of night there shines a silver star,
On the brow of night there shines a silver star,
And the wise men gaze on its heav’nly rays,
Till they find the King, whose throne they sought afar,
In the Babe of Bethlehem.Refrain
Silver star, holy light,
Shine afar, o’er the night,
Till the world shall come where the young Child lay,
And enter the gates of the newborn day.’Tis the lamp of God high hanging in the air,
’Tis the lamp of God high hanging in the air,
And it guides our feet thro’ the royal street;
There is sweet soul-rest for those who seek it there,
From the Babe of Bethlehem.Refrain
Bring your gifts of gold, of frankincense and myrrh,
Bring your gifts of gold, of frankincense and myrrh,
For the King we own is on David’s throne;
Let the holy Child your best affections stir;
’Tis the Babe of Bethlehem.Refrain
Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:2] Star, Beautiful Star
There’s a beautiful star, a beautiful star,
The weary travelers have followed far,
Shining so brightly all the way,
Till it stood o’er the place where the young Child lay.Refrain
Star, star, beautiful star!
Pilgrims weary we are;
To Jesus, to Jesus,
We follow thee from afar.In the land of the East, in the shadows of night,
We saw the glory of thy new light,
Telling us, in our distant home,
The King-Redeemer to earth hath come!Refrain
We have gold for tribute and gifts for prayer,
Incense of myrrh, and spices rare:
All that we have, we hither bring,
To lay it with joy at the feet of the King.Refrain
Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:2] Whence Come This Rush Of Wings?
Whence comes this rush of wings afar,
Following straight the Noël star?
Birds from the woods in wondrous flight,
Bethlehem seek this holy night.“Tell us, ye birds, why come ye here,
Into this stable, poor and drear?”
“Hast’ning we seek the newborn King,
And all our sweetest music bring.”Hark how the greenfinch bears his part,
Philomel, too, with tender heart,
Chants from her leafy dark retreat,
Re, mi, fa, sol, in accents sweet.Angels and shepherds, birds of the sky,
Come where the Son of God doth lie;
Christ on the earth with man doth dwell,
Join in the shout, “Noël, Noël!”source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:2] Where Is The Holy Heav’n-born Child?
Where is the holy Heav’n-born Child,
Heir of the everlasting throne,
Who Heav’n and earth hath reconciled,
And God and man rejoined in one?Shall we of earthly kings inquire,
To courts or palaces repair?
The nation’s Hope, the world’s Desire,
Alas! we cannot find Him there.Shall learning show the sinner’s Friend,
Or scribes a sight of Christ afford?
Us to His natal place they send,
But never go to see their Lord.We search the outward Church in vain,
They cannot Him we seek declare,
They have not found the Son of Man,
Or known the sacred Name they bear.Then let us turn no more aside,
But use the light Himself imparts,
His Spirit is our surest Guide,
His Spirit glimmering in our hearts.Drawn by His grace we come from far,
And fix on Heav’n our wistful eyes,
That ray divine, that orient star
Directs us where the Infant lies.See there! the newborn Savior see,
By faith discern the great I AM;
’Tis He! the eternal God! ’tis He
That bears the mild Immanuel’s Name.The Prince of Peace on earth is found,
The Child is born, the Son is giv’n;
Tell it to all the nations round,
Jehovah is come down from Heav’n!Jehovah is come down to raise
His dying creatures from their fall,
And all may now receive the grace
Which brings eternal life to all.Lord, we receive the grace and Thee,
With joy unspeakable receive,
And rise Thine open face to see,
And one with God for ever live.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:5] Shine Calm And Bright, Ye Moonbeams Light
Shine calm and bright, ye moonbeams light,
O’er Bethle’em’s town in slumber,
O’er young and old, o’er burgess bold,
And guests in goodly number;
For sheltered safe from winter’s frost,
Well housed and warm all lie,
Secure from snow in street below,
And screened from frozen sky.
But Babe benign! No couch is Thine,
Save lowly manger stall,
Where cold winds blow on Thy form divine,
Who comest to save us all.The crowds who sleep in Bethle’em’s walls
Both citizen and stranger,
From royal blood alike have sprung,
And spurn the humble manger.
But all one day must wend their way,
Heaving their latest sigh,
To mortal doom in lonesome tomb,
And in corruption lie.
But Babe benign! No power malign
Shall over Thee bear sway;
Thy life of light in the heavens bright
Shall glow in eternal day!To us, sweet Babe! Thy lowly crib
Than costly couch is dearer,
It seems to make Thee more our own,
To bring the Godhead nearer!
It seems to show Thy sympathy
For human grief and pain,
And makes us long to raise the song
Of Noel o’er again!
O Babe benign! Thy love divine
Shed round us, day by day;
Sweet Child of light! Be Thou our might,
Our gentle King for aye!Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:9] Kings Of The East Are Riding, The
The kings of the east are riding
Tonight to Bethlehem;
The sunset glows dividing,
The kings of the east are riding,
A star their journey guiding,
Gleaming with gold and gem.
The kings of the east are riding
Tonight to Bethlehem.To a strange sweet harp of Zion
The starry host troops forth:
The golden-glaived Orion
To a strange sweet harp of Zion,
The Archer and the Lion,
The Watcher of the north:
To a strange sweet harp of Zion
The starry host sweeps forth.There beams above a manger
The child-face of a star;
Amid the stars a stranger,
It beams above a manger,
What means this ether-ranger
To pause where poor folk are?
There beams above a manger
The child-face of a star.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:9] Shine On
See the brightly shining star,
As its radiance beams afar,
Guide the feet of weary pilgrims
To the place where Jesus lay.
Like a beacon from its height,
Burning brightly in the night,
As the wise men followed onward,
Safely guided all the way.Refrain
Shine on! shine on!
Beautiful star of light;
Shine on! shine on!
Cheering the gloomy night;
Shine on! shine on!
Sending thy rays afar,
Shine on thro’ the darkness,
Oh, thou fairest star.It is shining still for thee,
With a glory fair to see,
As it leadeth ever upward
To the palace of the King.
So we follow thro’ the night,
Safely guided by its light,
While our hearts respond with gladness
To the song the angels sing.Refrain
So today that star alone
Is the light to lead us on
To the feet of Christ our Savior,
He our Prophet, Priest and King,
As it brightly burns above,
Sentry of the King of love,
While we follow onward, upward
And His praises sweetly sing.Refrain
Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:9] Shine On, Bethlehem’s Star
O wondrous star of Bethlehem!
That in the heavens bright
Shone forth to guide the pilgrims’ feet,
Unto the Prince of Light,
Shine on thro’ endless ages,
While ringing thro’ the sky;
His loyal ones still hear the song:
“Glory to God on high!”Refrain
Shine on, Bethlehem’s star,
Send thy light afar;
Tell of Jesus’ birth
Till His glory fills the earth.O blessèd star of Bethlehem!
Still gild with heav’nly ray
The pathway to the Holy One
Who comes to us today.
Gleam thro’ the darksome shadows
That fill the heart with fear,
Till weary souls shall see the light,
Knowing that Christ is near.Refrain
O wondrous star of Bethlehem!
Shine on; we too would bring
Our lives a willing sacrifice,
With gladness to the King.
With joy we travel onward,
Encircled by the glow—
The glory of the fadeless Star,
Jesus, whose love we know.Refrain
Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:10] As With Gladness, Men Of Old
As with gladness, men of old
Did the guiding star behold
As with joy they hailed its light
Leading onward, beaming bright
So, most glorious Lord, may we
Evermore be led to Thee.As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly manger bed
There to bend the knee before
Him Whom Heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek Thy mercy seat.As they offered gifts most rare
At that manger rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to Thee, our heavenly King.Holy Jesus, every day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds Thy glory hide.In the heavenly country bright,
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There forever may we sing
Alleluias to our King!Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:11] Gentle Savior, Day And Night
Gentle Savior, day and night,
Ride three princes great in might,
Over mountain, over plain,
Thee a-seeking, Thee a-seeking,
Over mountain, over plain,
Thee a-seeking, gentle Child.Gaspar, Melchior, Bálthăzár,
Those three princes from afar,
Gold and myrrh, and incense bear
For an offering, for an offering,
To the sweet and gentle Child,
To the sweet and gentle Child.Gentle Savior in the cold,
In the dark with gifts of gold,
Those three princes at the door
Stand a-knocking, stand a-knocking,
Thee to worship, gentle Child,
Thee to worship, gentle Child.Enter princes, from the night!
Here, within, is warmth and light,
Jesus smiles, His hands outspreads
For the offerings, for the offerings,
Praise to Him, the gentle Child,
Praise to Him, the gentle Child.Joseph, sweep the stable clean,
Strew the straw, though all is mean.
Here the temple, here the throne,
Here the altar, here the altar,
Of our King, this gentle Child,
Of our King, this gentle Child.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:11] Hail, Thou Source Of Every Blessing
Hail, Thou Source of every blessing,
Sovereign Father of mankind!
Gentiles now, Thy grace possessing,
In Thy courts admission find.
Grateful now we fall before Thee,
In Thy Church obtain a place,
Now by faith behold Thy glory,
Praise Thy truth, adore Thy grace.Once far off, but now invited,
We approach Thy sacred throne;
In Thy covenant united,
Reconciled, redeemed, made one.
Now revealed to Eastern sages,
See the Star of Mercy shine;
Mystery hid in former ages,
Mystery great of love divine.Hail, Thou all-inviting Savior!
Gentiles now their offerings bring;
In Thy temple seek Thy favor,
Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.
May we, body, soul, and spirit,
Live devoted to Thy praise,
Glorious realms of bliss inherit,
Grateful anthems ever raise!Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:11] O Chief Of Cities, Bethlehem
O chief of cities, Bethlehem,
Of David’s crown the fairest gem,
But more to us than David’s name,
In you, as man, the Savior came.Beyond the sun in splendor bright,
Above you stands a wondrous light
Proclaiming from the conscious skies
That here, in flesh, the Godhead lies.The wise men, seeing Him so fair,
Bow low before Him, and with prayer
Their treasured eastern gifts unfold
Of incense, myrrh, and royal gold.The golden tribute owns Him King,
But frankincense to God they bring,
And last, prophetic sign, with myrrh,
They shadow forth His sepulcher.O Jesus, whom the Gentiles see,
With Father, Spirit, One in Three:
To You, O God, be glory giv’n
By saints on earth and saints in Heav’n.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:16] All Hail, Ye Little Martyr Flowers
All hail, ye little martyr flowers,
Sweet rosebuds cut in dawning hours!
When Herod sought the Christ to find
Ye fell as bloom before the wind.First victims of the martyr bands,
With crowns and palms in tender hands,
Around the very altar, gay
And innocent, ye seem to play.What profited this great offense?
What use was Herod’s violence?
A Babe survives that dreadful day,
And Christ is safely borne away.All honor, laud, and glory be,
O Jesus, virgin born, to Thee;
All glory, as is ever meet
To Father and to Paraclete.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:16] Children Of Jerusalem
Children of Jerusalem
Sang the praise of Jesus’ Name:
Children, too, of modern days
Join to sing the Savior’s praise.Refrain
Hark, hark, hark!
While infant voices sing,
Hark, hark, hark!
While infant voices sing
Loud hosannas, loud hosannas,
Loud hosannas to our King.We are taught to love the Lord,
We are taught to read His Word;
We are taught the way to Heav’n:
Praise for all to God be giv’n.Refrain
Parents, teachers, old and young,
All unite to swell the song;
Higher and yet higher rise,
’Til hosannas fill the skies.Refrain
Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:16] Coventry Carol
Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.O sisters too, how may we do,
For to preserve this day
This poor Youngling for Whom we sing
By, by, lully, lullay?Herod the king, in his raging,
Charged he hath this day
His men of might, in his own sight,
All young children to slay.That woe is me, poor Child for Thee!
And ever morn and day
For Thy parting neither say nor sing,
By, by, lully, lullay.Lully, lullay, Thou little tiny Child,
By, by, lully, lullay.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:16] Glory To Thee, O Lord
Glory to Thee, O Lord,
Who, from this world of sin,
By cruel Herod’s ruthless sword
Those precious ones didst win.Baptized in their own blood,
Earth’s untried perils o’er,
They passed unconsciously the flood,
And safely gained the shore.Glory to Thee for all
The ransomed infant band,
Who, since that hour have heard Thy call,
And reached the quiet land.O that our hearts within,
Like theirs, were pure and bright,
O that as free from stain of sin
We shrank not from Thy sight.Lord, help us every hour
Thy cleansing grace to claim;
In life to glorify Thy power,
In death to praise Thy Name.source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:16] In Paradise Reposing
In paradise reposing,
By life’s eternal well,
The tender lambs of Jesus
In greenest pastures dwell.There palms and tiny crownlets
Aglow with brightest gem,
Bedeck the baby martyrs
Who died in Bethlehem.With them the rose-wreathed army
Of children undefiled,
Who passed through mortal torments
For love of Christ the Child;With them in peace unending,
With them in joyous mirth,
Are all the stainless infants
Which since have gone from earth.The angels, once their guardians,
Their fellows now in grace,
With them, in love adoring,
See God the Father’s face.The lullaby to hush them
In that eternal rest,
Is sweet angelic singing,
Their nurses mothers blest.O Jesu, loving Shepherd,
Who tenderly dost bear
Thy lambs in Thine own bosom,
Bring us to join them there.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:16] Little Children, Rise And Sing
Little children, rise and sing,
(Ring the bells of Christmas)
’Tis the birthday of our King,
Blessèd Child of Christmas.In a stable far away
(Ring the bells of Christmas)
Christ was born that happy day,
Blessèd Child of Christmas.Joyful shepherds kneeling there,
(Ring the bells of Christmas)
Saw the Babe and said in prayer,
‘Blessèd Child of Christmas.’Bring your gifts to Mary’s Son
(Ring the bells of Christmas)
God’s own Gift to everyone;
Blessèd Child of Christmas.Play source: Cyberhymnal -
[Mat 2:16] When Christ Was Born In Bethlehem
When Christ was born in Bethlehem,
Fair peace on earth to bring,
In lowly state of love He came
To be the children’s King.And round Him, then, a holy band
Of children blest was born,
Fair guardians of His throne to stand
Attendant night and morn.And unto them this grace was giv’n
A Savior’s Name to own,
And die for Him who out of Heav’n
Had found on earth a throne.O blessèd babes of Bethlehem,
Who died to save our King,
Ye share the martyrs’ diadem,
And in their anthem sing!Your lips, on earth that never spake,
Now sound th’eternal word;
And in the courts of love ye make
Your children’s voices heard.Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Child,
Make Thou our childhood Thine;
That we with Thee the meek and mild
May share the love divine.Play source: Cyberhymnal
