how still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
the silent stars go by.
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
the everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
2. For Christ is born of Mary;
and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep
their watch of wond'ring love.
O morning stars, together
proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King,
and peace to men on earth.
3. How silently, how silently,
the wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
the blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
but in this world of sin,
where meek souls will receive Him still,
the dear Christ enters in.
4. O holy Child of Bethlehem,
descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in;
be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels,
the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord Emmanuel!
The hymn "O Little Town of Bethlehem" was written by Phillips Brooks in 1868. Brooks was an American Episcopal priest and hymn writer, best known for his deep spirituality and devotion.
The Story Behind the Hymn
Phillips Brooks wrote the hymn after visiting Bethlehem in 1865, during a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. He was deeply moved by the experience of standing in the place where Jesus was born and reflecting on the significance of the nativity. The vivid memories of his visit, especially of the small town of Bethlehem under the starry sky, inspired him to write the hymn.
The text was written in 1868, and it was originally intended for children at a Christmas Eve service at his church in Philadelphia, Holy Trinity Church. The hymn reflects Brooks' awe at the peacefulness and beauty of the place where Christ was born, contrasting the humble town of Bethlehem with the grandeur of God's incarnation.
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