What Child Is This?

1. What Child is this who, laid to rest,

On Mary’s lap is sleeping?

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ the King,

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing;¹

Haste, haste, to bring Him laud,²

The babe, the son of Mary!

2. Why lies He in such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christian, fear, for sinners here

The silent Word is pleading.³

Nails, spear shall pierce him through,

The Cross be borne for me, for you;⁴

Hail, hail the Word made flesh,⁵

The babe, the son of Mary!

3. So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh;

Come peasant, king to own Him.⁶

The King of kings salvation brings;

Let loving hearts enthrone Him.⁷

Raise, raise, the song on high,

The virgin sings her lullaby;⁸

Joy, joy, for Christ is born,

The babe, the son of Mary!

– Lutheran Service Book

Alternative renderings and sources:

¹Whom shepherds worship and angels sing (NEH, CP)

²Haste, haste to bring Him praise (NEH, CP)

³Come, have no fear; God's son is here, (NEH, CP)

His love all loves exceeding: (NEH, CP)

⁴The cross he bore for me, for you

⁵Hail, hail, the Saviour comes, (NEH, CP)

⁶All tongues and peoples own him, (NEH, CP)

⁷Let every heart enthrone Him: (NEH, CP)

⁸While Mary sings a lullaby, (NEH, CP)

NEH: New English Hymnal (40)
CP: Common Praise (74) (the most recent edition of the Hymns Ancient and Modern series of hymnals.)