When Joseph Went to Bethlehem

Author: Bessie Saunders Spencer

This chart compares versions of the English text of When Joseph Went to Bethlehem, as it appears in different publications.

Minor punctuation, capitalization, and spelling differences are shown, in addition to more substantial differences in words, phrases, or verses.

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1. When Joseph went to Bethlehem I think he took great caren11. When Joseph went to Bethlehem, I think he took great care 2To place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there.2To place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there. n3He urged the donkey forward then with Mary on its back,n3He urged the donkey forward then, with Mary on its back, 4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. 55 62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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1. When Joseph went to Bethlehem, I think he took great care 2To place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there.2To place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there. n3He urged the donkey forward then with Mary on its back,n3He urged the donkey forward then, with Mary on its back, 4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. 55 62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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To place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there.2To place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there. n3He urged the donkey forward then with Mary on its back,n3He urged the donkey forward then, with Mary on its back, 4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. 55 62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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To place his tools and close his shop and leave no shavings there. n3He urged the donkey forward then with Mary on its back,n3He urged the donkey forward then, with Mary on its back, 4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. 55 62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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He urged the donkey forward then with Mary on its back,n3He urged the donkey forward then, with Mary on its back, 4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. 55 62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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He urged the donkey forward then, with Mary on its back, 4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. 55 62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack.4And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. 55 62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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And carried bread and goat cheese in a little linen sack. 55 62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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2. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild62. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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2. I think there at the busy inn that he was meek and mild 7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child.7And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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And awed to be the guardian of Mary’s sacred child. 8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands,8Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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Perhaps all through the chilly hours he smoothed the swaddling bands, 9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands.9And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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And Jesus felt the quiet strength of Joseph’s gentle hands. 1010 t113. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light,t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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3. And close beside the manger bed he dimmed the lantern’s light, class="diff_next">t113. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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3. And close beside the manger bed, he dimmed the lantern’s light 12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night.12And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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And held the little Jesus close upon that holy night. 1313
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