376. Once in Royal David's City

1 Once in royal David's city
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed:
Mary was that mother mild,
Jesus Christ her little child.

2 He came down to earth from heaven,
Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable,
And His cradle was a stall;
With the poor and mean and lowly
Lived on earth our Savior holy.

3 For He is our childhood's pattern,
Day by day like us He grew;
He was little, weak, and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feels for all our sadness,
And He shares in all our gladness.

4 And our eyes at last shall see Him,
Through His own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle
Is the Lord in heav'n above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

5 Not in that poor, lowly stable
With the oxen standing by
Shall we see Him, but in heaven,
Set at God's right hand on high.
Then like stars His children, crowned,
All in white, His praise will sound!

Text Information
First Line: Once in royal David's city
Title: Once in Royal David's City
Author: Cecil F. Alexander, 1818-95 (alt.)
Meter: 87 87 77
Language: English
Publication Date: 2006
Scripture: ; ; ;
Tune Information
Name: IRBY
Composer: Henry J. Gauntlett, 1805-76
Arranger: Arthur H. Mann, 1850-1929
Meter: 87 87 77
Key: F Major



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