God's Dear Son Without Beginning

God's dear Son without beginning

Whom the Jews of old did scorn,

The Only Wise without all sinning

On this blessèd day was born;

To save us all from sin and thrall,

When we in Satan's chains were bound,

And shed His blood to do us good,

With many a purple bleeding wound.

Bethlehem, King David's city,

Was His birthplace, as we find,

Who God and man endued with pity

Was the Savior of mankind;

Yet Jewry land with cruel hand,

Both first and last His power envied;

When He was born, they did Him scorn,

And showed Him malice when He died.

Princely palace for our Savior

In Judea was not found,

But blessèd Mary's meek behavior

Patiently upon the ground

Her Babe did place in vile disgrace,

Where oxen in their stalls did feed;

No midwife mild had this sweet Child

No woman's help at mother's need.

Kingly robes nor golden treasure

Decked the birthday of God's Son;

No pompous train at all took pleasure

To this King of kings to run;

No mantle brave could Jesus have

Upon His cradle for to lie;

Nor music's charms in nurse's arms

To sing the Babe a lullaby.

Yet as Mary sat in solace

By our Savior's first beginning,

The host of angels from God's palace

Sounded sweet from Heaven singing;

Yea, Heav'n and earth for Jesus' birth,

With sweet melodious tunes abound,

And everything for Jewry's King,

Upon the earth gave cheerful sound.

Now to Him that hath redeemed us

By His death on Holy Rood,

And though poor sinners so esteemed us,

That He bought us with His blood,

Yield lasting fame, that still the Name

Of Jesus may be honored here;

And let us say that Christmas Day

Is still the best day of the year.