O little town of Bethlehem
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O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by: Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night. For Christ is born of Mary; And, gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the KIng, And peace to men on earth. How silently, how silently, The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming; But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in: Be born in us to-day. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell: O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel. |
Immota, Bethlehem, iaces, O urbs exigua; tu dormis, et stellas movet tranquilla vis supra: opaca luxit in te perpetuus dies; quot spes bonae sunt aut malae hac nocte tu tenes. Nam Christum Virgo gignit, infraque homines cum dormiant, invigilant Dei satellites. Stellarum matutinus partum canat chorus, ut laus Deo sit Domino et pax terrestribus. Praebentur o quam tacite miranda munera! Sic cordibus nostris Deus superna dat bona. In mundum hunc scelestum clam auribus venit, et pervias in animas parvorum Christus it. O sancte Bethlehem Puer, deorsum mitte te; intransque nos fac integros; in nobis nascere. Est cantus angelorum nostris in auribus: O! nos pete nec desere, Nobiscum tu Deus. |