The Sinful Earth Was Sunk in Woe

The sin­ful earth was sunk in woe:

No arm was found of pow­er to save;

The Son of God ap­peared b­elow

To con­quer death and spoil the grave.

His mo­ther was a low­ly maid

Of Da­vid’s lin­eage

un­de­filed;

Her in­fant on her breast she laid

To sight a meek and help­less child.

An an­gel bade the shep­herds bless

That ho­ly Child to mor­tals giv­en;

And o’er Him lin­gered mo­tion­less

A star that lit the night­ly heav­en.

Lo

with that an­gel heav­en’s high­est

Sang chor­al chant in bright ar­ray;

Lo

by that star the Ho­ly Ghost

Brought east­ern sag­es where He lay.

The words of truth His good­ness tell;

For us He lived

He died

He broke

The chains of sin

the gates of hell

And bade us wear His ea­sy yoke.

Then make we not of none ef­fect

His love in Heav­en

His woes on earth

But hail to­day with His elect

The joy­ful tid­ings of His birth.