Thou wast beheld a babe who ere all ages art, and, as the blessed one, thy kingdom promis’d hast to babes: O number thou therein the present babe.
Glory.
The undefiled babe, O Saviour Christ, whom thou received hast ere earthly pleasures’ trial, vouchsafe eternal blessedness, as lover of mankind.
Both now.
Thou who unspeakably didst bear him who the Father’s Wisdom is and Word; heal thou my soul’s sore wound, and my heart’s pain appease.
Ode iii. Irmos.
O Lord, creator of the vault of heaven and builder of the church; thou me hast stablish’d in thy love, thou ending of desire, the faithful’s confirmation, sole lover of mankind.
Refrain. Rest thou the babe, O Lord.
O thou most perfect Word, who didst appear a perfect babe, thou hast removed to thyself a babe imperfect in its growth, whom do thou rest with all the just who have been welcome unto thee, sole lover of mankind.
Him taken hence, not tasting of the pleasures of the world, of supermundane blessings make participant we pray, O thou Compassionate One, even the uncorrupted babe, whom thou hast chang’d by thy divine command.