He is born, the divine Christ child;
Oboe resound, and the bagpipe merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ child—
Sing the birth of the Savior mild.
1. More than four thousand years foretold,
Prophets rejoiced and announced his coming.
More than four thousand years foretold,
We’ve awaited this happy time.
He is born, the divine Christ child;
Oboe resound, and the bagpipe merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ child—
Sing the birth of the Savior mild.
2. Oh what beauty and grace divine,
Oh how pure his sublime perfection.
Oh what beauty and grace divine,
At his coming, divine Christ child.
He is born, the divine Christ child;
Oboe resound, and the bagpipe merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ child—
Sing the birth of the Savior mild.
3. In a stable he sweetly rests,
With some straw for a humble pillow.
In a stable he sweetly rests,
Condescension of love divine.
He is born, the divine Christ child;
Oboe resound, and the bagpipe merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ child—
Sing the birth of the Savior mild.
4. Lord, thou art our eternal King,
Born on earth to unite and save us.
Lord, thou art our eternal King—
At thy birth we rejoice and sing!
He is born, the divine Christ child;
Oboe resound, and the bagpipe merrily!
He is born, the divine Christ child—
Sing the birth of the Savior mild.
Original French text: Traditional French carol (19th century). “Il est né, le divin enfant,” printed in the French hymnal Cantiques (1993), no. 133. Public domain.
Tune: Traditional French carol (19th century). Public domain.
Translated text: Samuel H. Bradshaw (1990–), November 2018. © 2018 Samuel H. Bradshaw.
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