Good Old Simeon.
NOW, when a week had passed, the babe
Received the sacred sign
Which God to Abraham had given,
As covenant divine.
They gave him Jesus for his name,
According to the word
Of the archangel Gabriel,
Who stands before the Lord.
And, then, a few weeks later,
To Jerusalem they went,
Before the great Jehovah
The young child to present;
And to offer, on the altar,
In thankful sacrifice,
A pair of doves, or pigeons,
Of small and humble price.
At that time, in the temple gate,
There was an aged saint,
Who waited for the promised Christ
Nor did his firm faith faint.
A just and righteous man was he,
And Simeon was his name,
And the Holy Ghost, with power,
Upon his spirit came.
And it was thus revealed to him
That he should never die,
Until his mortal eyes had seen
The Lord's Christ, from on high.
And he came, by the spirit,
The temple court within
Just as his earthly parents
Their infant child brought in.
Then Simeon took the Holy Child
Into his arms, and said:
"Bless Thee, my God, for all the way
Thou hast Thy servant led.
"And now let me depart in peace
According to Thy word,
Since my old eyes have haply seen
My Saviour and my Lord;
"Whom Thou hast sent into the world,
To lighten all mankind,
And that Thy people, Israel,
Their precious Prince may find."
Then Joseph and the virgin
Were filled with great surprise
At the words that Simeon uttered—
So grave, devout and wise.
And Simeon blessed both parents,
And said to Mary then,
"This child is set that Israel
May fall and rise again;
"And for a sign, which wicked tongues
Shall slander and indict,
And that the thoughts of evil hearts
May be exposed to sight."