From Oremus Hymnal
Bethlehem, of noblest cities
none can once with thee compare;
thou alone, the Lord from heaven
didst for us incarnate bear.
Fairer than the sun at morning
was the star that told his birth;
to the lands their God announcing,
seen in fleshly form on earth.
By its lambent beauty guided
see the eastern kings appear;
see them bend, their gifts to offer,
gifts of incense, gold and myrrh.
Solemn things of mystic meaning:
incense doth the God disclose,
gold a royal child proclaimeth,
myrrh a future tomb foreshows.
Holy Jesus, in thy brightness
to the Gentile world displayed,
with the Father and the Spirit
endless praise to thee be paid.
Historical Notes
Translation of O sola magnarum urbium
Author
Prudentius (348-410), trans. Edward Caswall (1814-1878)
Meter
87 87
Sound Files
Stuttgart
Other Comments
Sources
Hymnals
| Hymnal
| Number
| Tunes Used
|
| Hymns of the Protestant Episcopal Church, 1826
| #
|
|
| Hymns Ancient & Modern, 1861-1874
| #
|
|
| The Year of Praise, 1867
| #
|
|
| The Anglican Hymn Book, 1868
| #
|
|
| The Sarum Hymnal, 1869
| # 64
| Sollt es gleich
|
| The Parish Hymnal, 1870
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnal (US), 1871-1874
| #
|
|
| Church Hymns with Tunes, 1874
| #
|
|
| Church Hymnal (Church of Ireland), 1874
| #
|
|
| Hymns Ancient & Modern, Standard, 1875-1924
| #
|
|
| A Church of England Hymn Book, 1879
| # 131
|
|
| The Universal Hymn Book, 1885
| #
|
|
| The Mission Hymnal, 1885
| #
|
|
| The Hymnal Companion, 1890
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Darlington)
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Parker)
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Hutchins)
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Tucker & Rousseau)
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Helfenstein)
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnal, 1892 (Messiter)
| #
|
|
| The Yattendon Hymnal, 1900
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnary (Scotland), 1902
| #
|
|
| Church Hymns, New Edition, 1903
| # 110
| Stuttgart
|
| Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Edition, 1904
| #
|
|
| The English Hymnal, 1906
| # 40
| Stuttgart
|
| The Book of Common Praise (Canada), 1908
| #
|
|
| The Mission Hymnal, 1913
| #
|
|
| The Hymnal 1916 (US)
| #
|
|
| Church Hymnal for the Christian Year, 1917
| #
|
|
| Church Hymnal (Ireland), 1919
| #
|
|
| Church Hymnal Revised, 1920 (Hutchins)
| #
|
|
| The Oxford Hymn Book, 1925
| # 77
| Stuttgart
|
| Songs of Praise, 1925
| # 58
| Stuttgart
|
| Songs of Praise, Enlarged Edition, 1931
| # 84
| Stuttgart
|
| The Book of Common Praise (Canada), 1938
| #
|
|
| The Hymnal 1940 (US)
| #
|
|
| Christian Worship, 1941
| #
|
|
| Hymns Ancient & Modern, Revised, 1950
| #
|
|
| The Mirfield Mission Hymn Book, 1955
| #
|
|
| Church Hymnal (Ireland), 1960
| #
|
|
| Anglican Hymn Book, 1965
| #
|
|
| The Hymn Book 1971 (Canada)
| #
|
|
| The Australian Hymn Book, 1977
| #
|
|
| The Hymnal 1982 (US)
| #
|
|
| Hymns Ancient & Modern, New Standard, 1983
| #
|
|
| The New English Hymnal, 1985
| #
|
|
| Hymns for Today's Church, 1987
| #
|
|
| Church Family Worship, 1988
| #
|
|
| Hymns Old & New, New Anglican, 1996
| #
|
|
| Common Praise (Canada), 1998
| #
|
|
| Together in Song (Australia), 1999
| #
|
|
| Sing Glory, 1999
| #
|
|
| Complete Mission Praise, 2000
| #
|
|
| Common Praise, 2000
| #
|
|
| Hymns Old & New, Complete Anglican, 2000
| #
|
|
| Church Hymnal (Ireland), 2000
| #
|
|
| The Church Hymnary, Fourth Edition (Scotland), 2005
| #
|
|
| The Book of Hymns, 2006
| #
|
|
| Zion Still Sings, 2007
| #
|
|
