Verse 1

ONCE in royal David’s city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for his bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little child.

Verse 2

He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And his shelter was a stable, And his cradle was a stall; With the poor, the scorned, the lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

Verse 3

And, through all his wondrous childhood, He would honour and obey, Love and watch the lowly maiden In whose gentle arms he lay: Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as he.

Verse 4

For he is our childhood’s pattern, Day by day like us he grew; He was little, weak and helpless, Tears and smiles like us he knew. And he feeleth for our sadness, and he shareth in our gladness.

Verse 5

And our eyes at last shall see him, Through his own redeeming love; For that Child who seemed so helpless Is our Lord in heaven above; And he leads his children on To the place where he is gone.

Background: Once In Royal David’s City Stood A