Today’s hymn comes from Reformer Martin Luther. Writing about this hymn, Pastor Greg Wismar notes “although much of the music was reserved for the clergy in the early centuries of the Christian Church, by the end of the first millennium the singing of choral responses by the entire gathered congregation had begun to take shape. In Germany these sung responses of praise, traced as far back as the tenth century, were called Leisen. The verse sung by people at worship on Christmas day, now the first stanza of “We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth,” dates
back to the eleventh century. It had been established already for centuries when Martin Luther added six more stanzas to it and published it as a hymn late in 1523 or in 1524 along with the tune to which the song is still sung to this day. The choice of this hymn as the “hauptlied” or chief hymn for Christmas Day has found usage among Lutheran people for almost five hundred years!1” Enjoy this one today!
We praise you, Jesus, at your birth;
Clothed in flesh you came to earth.
The virgin bears a sinless boy
and all the angels sing for joy. Alleluia!
Now in the manger we may see
God’s Son from eternity,
the gift from God’s eternal throne
here clothed in our poor flesh and bone. Alleluia!
The virgin Mary’s lullaby
calms the infant Lord Most High.
Upon her lap content is he
who keeps the earth and sky and sea. Alleluia!
The Light Eternal, breaking through,
made the world to gleam anew;
his beams have pierced the core of night,
he makes us children of the light. Alleluia!
The very Son of God sublime
entered into earthly time
to lead us from this world of cares
to heaven’s courts as blessed heirs. Alleluia!
In poverty he came to earth
showing mercy by his birth;
he makes us rich in heav’nly ways
as we, like angels, sing his praise. Alleluia!
All this for us our God has done
granting love through his own Son.
Therefore, all Christendom, rejoice
And sing his praise with endless voice. Alleluia!
Hymn of the Day 