by Aurelius Clemens Prudentius, c. 348–413, tr. Edward Caswall, 1814–78
1 O SOLA magnarum urbium maior Bethlehem, cui contigit ducem salutis caelitus incorporatum gignere. 2 Haec stella, quae solis rotam vincit decore ac lumine, venisse terris nuntiat cum carne terrestri Deum. 3 Videre postquam illum Magi, eoa promunt munera: stratique votis offerunt thus, myrrham, et aurum regium. 4 Regem Deumque annuntiant thesaurus, et fragrans odor thuris Sabaei, ac myrrheus pulvis sepulchrum praedocet. 5 Iesu, tibi sit gloria, qui apparuisti gentibus, cum Patre, et almo Spiritu, in sempiterna saecula.
1 Earth has many a noble city; Bethlehem, thou dost all excel; Out of thee the Lord from heaven Came to rule His Israel. 2 Fairer than the sun at morning Was the star that told His birth, To the world its God announcing Seen in fleshly form on earth. 3 Eastern sages at His cradle Make oblations rich and rare; See them give, in deep devotion, Gold and frankincense and myrrh. 4 Sacred gifts of mystic meaning: Incense doth their God disclose, Gold the King of kings proclaimeth, Myrrh His sepulchre foreshows. 5 Jesu, whom the Gentiles worshipped At Thy glad Epiphany, Unto Thee, with God the Father And the Spirit, glory be. Amen.
SIDEBAR
12 Days of Christmas
This hymn was posted as an aid to meditation for the 12 Days of Christmas 2009–2010
