So Ends the Ages’ Vigil

So ends the ag­es’ vi­gil

So ends the pro­phets’ line;

Forth from the vir­gin’s bless­èd womb

Comes now the Babe di­vine.

Out of the high­est Heav­en

Down to the won­der­ing earth

Come an­gel choirs des­cend­ing

To sing Mes­si­ah’s birth.

One with th’eter­nal Fa­ther

A hu­man name He bears:

See God and man unit­ed

Veiled in the flesh He wears.

This is the King im­mor­tal

That na­tions all shall seek;

Ne’er rul­er so ma­jes­tic

Never a prince so meek.

Clad in a hum­ble ves­ture

With peace His rod of might

See kings ap­proach His pre­sence

And trem­ble at the sight.

His in­no­cence is er­mine

And po­ver­ty His crown

Love is His throne of glo­ry

And mer­cy His re­nown.

He home­less lies in man­ger

But pi­ty does not crave:

He still rules all cre­ation

Still migh­ty

strong to save.

Blest hence­forth are the low­ly

Who of His meek­ness learn;

Blest those who sow His mer­cy

They mer­cy reap in turn.

Blest those who fa­mi­ly

for­tune

Renounce for His dear sake;

They count no bur­den griev­ous

That Christ gives them to take.

Just one cold cup of wa­ter

Unto His small ones giv’n

The giv­er shall re­ceive it back

Filled from the springs of Heav’n.

Blessèd the least be­liev­er

More than the pro­phets old

Who in the low­ly man­ger

Their Sav­ior

God

be­hold.

Fall at His feet

you faith­ful

Bow to the King of kings!

As count­less hosts adore Him

And fold you in their wings.

Now hear their sweet­est car­ols

That bright with rap­ture rise;

Come

join the joy­ful chor­us

That cir­cles earth and skies!