Once In Royal David’s City

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 that little child.

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 and mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour Holy.

And our eyes at last shall see Him Through His own redeeming love, For that child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in Heaven above; And He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor, lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see Him; but in Heaven, Set at God’s right hand on high, When, like stars, His children crowned All in white, shall wait around.

(Cecil Frances Alexander)