me--
'Twas for my sin He died,--
O, that all eyes might see
The Saviour crucified;
And give Him love
Who dwells above,
And gave His life for me.

{Deute agalliasometha to kyrio, to paron mysterion ekdiegoumenoi}

I

Come, let us sing with joyful mirth
The mystery of Immanuel's birth,
Who, Virgin born, is here;
The middle wall no longer stands,
No flaming sword in Cherub's hands
Inspires the soul with fear.

II

See, clear the pathway open lies
That upward leads to Paradise,
Where stands the Tree of Life;
And freely may I enter in,
Whence I was driven by mortal sin,
And worsted in the strife.

III

For He, the Father's only Son,
A glorious work hath now begun,
Descending from above
In servant's form, though yet the Son,
Unchanging while the ages run,
To win us by His love.

IV

Come, now, let hearts united be
To laud His praises joyfully,
The God-Man born to-day.
And let Thy mercy reach us now
For pitiful and kind art Thou,
O Virgin born, we pray.

{to Pneuma tes aletheias}

I

O Christ, to Thy disciples then,
When eyes were sad, and hearts were sore,
Thy lips the cheering promise made,
To comfort them for evermore.

II

And now what law and prophets spake
To waiting hearts in days of old,
Has been fulfilled: the Spirit seeks
The human heart, as long foretold.

III

O Christ, to us the promise speak,
And send Thy Spirit in our need,
That He may bless our longing hearts,
And ever in Thy precepts lead.

IV

And light the darkness of our night,
Till clear the path before us lies;
And comfort us in sore distress,
And wipe the sorrow from our eyes.

V

And songs of praise to Thee we'll give,
O God the Father, Christ the Son,
And Holy Spirit, while we live,
And in the ages yet to run.

{ouk apheso hymas orphanous}