"Joseph dearest, Joseph mine,
Help me cradle the child divine;
God reward thee and All that's thine
In paradise,"
So prays the mother Mary.
He came among us at Christmastide,
At Christmastide, in Bethlehem;
Men shall bring Him from far and wide
Love's diadem: Jesus, Jesus,
Lo, He comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!
"Gladly, dear one, lady mine,
Help I cradle this child of thine;
God's own light on us both shall shine
In paradise,
As prays the mother Mary."
Peace to all that have goodwill!
God, who heaven and earth doth fill,
Comes to turn us away from ill,
And lies so still
Within the crib of Mary.
All shall come and bow the knee,
Wise and happy their souls shall be.
Loving such a divinity
As all may see
In Jesus, Son of Mary.
Now is born Emmanual,
Prophesied once by Ezekiel,
Promised Mary by Gabriel,
Ah, who can tell
Thy praises, Son of Mary.
Thou my lazy heart hast stirred,
Thou, the Father's eternal Word,
Greater than aught that ear has heard,
Thou tiny bird
Of love, thou Son of Mary.
Sweet and lovely little one,
Thou princely, beautiful, God's own Son,
Without thee all of us were undone;
Our love is Won
By thing, O Son of Mary.
Little man, and God indeed,
Little and poor, thou art all we need;
We will follow where thou dost lead,
And we will heed
Our brother, born of Mary.