Ah, Dearest Jesus

Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I, too, must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle song.

Glory to God in highest Heaven,
Who unto man His Son hath given;
While angels sing with tender mirth,
A glad new year to all the earth.

Author: Martin Luther

Year: 1535

This is an English translation (by an unknown hand) of Luther's German Christmas hymn 'Vom Himmel hoch da komm ich her' (From Heaven Above to Earth I Come). The first two stanzas shown are a common adaptation of the original 15-stanza text; the third stanza is a variant not always included in modern hymnals.