All Praise to Thee, Eternal Lord

These graceful lyrics are credited to Martin Luther. I like it more than ‘Away in a Manger’ which, I just learned, was NOT written by the fine reformer.

I particularly like the line 'Choosing a manger for thy throne while worlds on worlds are thine alone'.

1 All praise to thee, Eternal Lord,

Clothed in a garb of flesh and blood;

Choosing a manger for thy throne,

While worlds on worlds are thine alone.

2 Once did the skies before thee bow;

A Virgin's arms contain thee now:

Angels who did in thee rejoice

Now listen for thine infant voice.

3 A little Child, thou art our Guest,

That weary ones in thee may rest;

Forlorn and lowly is thy birth,

That we may rise to heav'n from earth.

4 Thou comest in the darksome night

To make us children of the light,

To make us, in the realms divine,

Like thine own angels round thee shine.

5 All this for us thy love hath done;

By this to thee our love is won:

For this we tune our cheerful lays,

And shout our thanks in ceaseless praise.