Long Did Both Kings and Prophets Wait

Long did both kings and pro­phets wait

To see the Lord of glo­ry great

Appear

to an­swer that great end

To prove the fall­en sin­ner’s friend.

Of Him the pro­phets long fore­told

The fa­thers wished Him to be­hold;

Him all the na­tions did de­sire

And an­gels wished Him to ad­mire.

Their pro­phe­cies are now ful­filled;

The glo­ri­ous mys­te­ry re­vealed:

The Child is born

the Son is giv’n

The Prince of life is come from Heav’n.

His name is Je­sus Christ the Lord

The great and ev­er­last­ing Word:

He came to exe­cute the plan

To save the fall­en race of man.

He is the Lord from Heav­en come

Our hu­man na­ture to as­sume

Our sins to bear

His blood to shed

And bruise and crush the ser­pent’s head.

He left His glo­ri­ous throne above

And comes with pi­ty

grace

and love:

He comes to call the sons of men

And turn them to their God again.

We praise Thee

O Thou King of peace!

Who art our life and right­eous­ness;

Thou vir­gin’s Son

Thou Da­vid’s Star:

No crea­ture can Thy love de­clare.

All such are tru­ly dead in sin

Who feel them­selves not moved with­in

To join with Christ­ians here on earth

To show and praise the Sav­ior’s birth.

Let all who dwell with hosts on high!

Engage His praise to mag­ni­fy;

With all the ef­forts they can raise

Thus join to sing the Sav­ior’s praise.