Sleep, My Little Jesus

Sleep, my little Jesus,
On Thy bed of hay,
While the shepherds homeward
Journey on their way.
Mother is Thy shepherd
And will her vigil keep:
Did the voices wake Thee?
O sleep, my Jesus, sleep!

Refrain

Softly sleep, sweetly sleep,
My Jesus, sleep!

Sleep, my little Jesus,
While Thou art my own!
Ox and ass Thy neighbors,
Shalt Thou have a throne?
Will they call me blessèd?
Shall I stand and weep?
Be it far, Jehovah!
O sleep, my Jesus, sleep!

Refrain

Sleep, my little Jesus,
Wonder-baby mine!
Well the singing angels
Greet Thee as divine.
Through my heart, as heaven
Low the echoes sweep
Of glory to Jehovah!
O sleep, my Jesus, sleep!

Refrain

Author: William C. Dix

Year: 1870

William Chatterton Dix (1837–1898) wrote both the words and tune for this Christmas lullaby. It first appeared in his collection Hymns and Carols for Children (c. 1870). The text matches the original exactly; no significant alternate attributions exist.