Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#53

53. Why, Herod, unrelenting foe!

1 Why, Herod, unrelenting foe!
Doth Christ the Lord’s birth move thee so?
He doth no earthly kingdom crave;
Who unto us heav'n's kingdom gave.

2 The star before the wise men goes,
This light to them the true Light shows;
They, by the three gifts which they bring,
Declare this Child: God, Man, and King.

3 He was baptized in Jordan's flood,
The holy, heavenly Lamb of God,
And He, who did no sin, thereby
Cleansed us from all iniquity!

4 And now a miracle is done:
Six water pots are there of stone,
Christ speaks the word with power divine--
The water changes into wine.

5 All honor, praise to Thee be paid,
O Christ, born of the virgin maid,
With Father and with Holy Ghost,
Till time in endless time be lost.

Text Information

• First Line: Why, Herod, unrelenting foe!
• Translator (into English): Richard Massie (1854)
• Translator (into German): Dr. Martin Luther (1541)
• Meter: L. M. No. 1
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: The Church Year: Epiphany; Second Sunday after Epiphany
• Source: Latin
• Notes: From the German text: Was fuerchtst du, Feind herodes, sehr

Tune Information

• Name: SEDULIUS (Was fürct'st du, Feind Herodes, sehr)
• Harmonizer: M. Praetorius (1609)
• Meter: L. M. No. 1
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: David Wolder's G. B., Hamburg, 1598