7. Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
What is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this child, so young and fair?
The blessed Christ-child lieth there!
8. Welcome to earth, thou noble guest,
Through whom e'en wicked men are blest!
Thou com'st to share our misery,
What can we render, Lord, to thee!
9. Ah, Lord, who hast created all,
How hast thou made thee weak and small,
To lie upon the coarse dry grass,
The food of humble ox and ass.
10. And were the world ten times as wide,
With gold and jewels beautified,
It would be far too small to be
A little cradle, Lord, for thee.
11. Thy silk and velvet are coarse hay,
Thy swaddling bands the mean array,
With which even thou, a King so great,
Art clad as with a robe of state.
12. Thus hath it pleased thee to make plain
The truth to us, poor fools and vain,
That this world's honor, wealth and might
Are naught and worthless in thy sight.
13. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Here in my poor heart's inmost shrine,
That I may evermore be thine.
14. My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep,
I too must sing, with joyful tongue,
That sweetest ancient cradle song:-
15. Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto man his Son hath given,
While angles sing, with pious mirth,
A glad New Year to all the earth.
1. Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her,
Ich bring' euch gute neue Maehr,
Der guten Maehr bring ich so viel,
Davon ich sing'n und sagen will.