Once in Royal David's City

Once in royal David’s city

Stood a lowly cattle shed,

Where a mother laid her Baby

In a manger for His bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little Child.

He came down to earth from Heaven,

Who is God and Lord of all,

And His shelter was a stable,

And His cradle was a stall;

With the poor, and mean, and lowly,

Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And, through all His wondrous childhood,

He would honor and obey,

Love and watch the lowly maiden,

In whose gentle arms He lay:

Christian children all must be

Mild, obedient, good as He.

For He is our childhood’s pattern;

Day by day, like us He grew;

He was little, weak and helpless,

Tears and smiles like us He knew;

And He feeleth for our sadness,

And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him,

Through His own redeeming love,

For that Child so dear and gentle

Is our Lord in Heav’n above,

And He leads His children on

To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable,

With the oxen standing by,

We shall see Him; but in Heaven,

Set at God’s right hand on high;

Where like stars His children crowned

All in white shall wait around.

by Cecil F. Alexander

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Isaiah 9:2-7

"The people who walk in darkness

Will see a great light;

Those who live in a dark land,

The light will shine on them.

You shall multiply the nation,

You shall increase their gladness;

They will be glad in Your presence

As with the gladness of harvest,

As men rejoice when they divide the spoil.

For You shall break the yoke of their burden 

and the staff on their shoulders,

The rod of their oppressor, 

as at the battle of Midian.

For every boot 

of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,

And cloak rolled in blood,

 will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

For a child will be born to us, 

a son will be given to us;

And the government will rest on His shoulders;

And His name will be called 

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

There will be no end 

to the increase of His government or of peace,

On the throne of David 

and over his kingdom,

To establish it and to uphold it 

with justice and righteousness

From then on and forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this."

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