The wise men of old saw a beautiful star,
Led on by its glory they traveled afar;
O’er mountain and valley ’til wanderings past,
Their gifts at the feet of the Savior they cast.

Refrain

Beautiful beautiful star of the east
Beautiful beautiful star of the east
Scatter the shadows of sin far away,
Lead us to Jesus, the Star of the day.

The star of the east was the herald of day,
The light everlasting that fades not away;
Its beams rising higher, O hasten and see,
The Light of the world shines for you and for me.

Refrain

The star of His Word guards His people today,
To sweet joy in Jesus ’tis leading the way.
Then still let us follow and lovingly bring
Our hearts and our off’rings to Jesus our King.

Refrain

To those who in darkness are straying afar,
We’ll show the pure rays of the beautiful star.
We’ll tell them of Jesus, that at His dear feet,
The saved of all nations shall joyfully meet.

Refrain

Christians, lo, the star appeareth;
Lo ’tis yet Messiah’s day;
Still with tribute treasure laden
Come the wise men on their way.

Where a life is spent in service,
Walking where the Master trod,
There is scattered myrrh most fragrant
For the blessèd Christ of God.

Whoso bears his brother’s burden,
Whoso shares another’s woe,
Brings his frankincense to Jesus
With the men of long ago.

When we soothe earth’s weary children
Tending best the least of them,
’Tis the Lord himself we worship,
Bringing gold to Bethlehem.

Christians, lo, the star appeareth
Leading still the ancient way;
Christians, onward with your treasure;
It is still Messiah’s day.

A king might miss the guiding star,
A wise man’s foot might stumble;
For Bethlehem is very far
From all except the humble.
’Tis Christmas Day! ’Tis Christmas Day!
And Christian hearts are humble.

Some pilgrims seek a hallowed shrine;
Some soldiers march to danger;
Some travelers seek an inn—its sign
“The Baby in a manger.”
When Christ was born on Christmas morn,
They laid Him in a manger.

There is no palace in that place,
Nor any seat of learning,
No hilltop vision of God’s face,
No altar candles burning:
O come and see our Christmas tree
And Christmas candles burning.

But he who gets to Bethlehem
Shall hear the oxen lowing;
And, if he humbly kneel with them,
May catch far trumpets blowing;
From far away, on Christmas Day,
May hear God’s trumpets blowing.

On the brow of night there shines a silver star,
On the brow of night there shines a silver star,
And the wise men gaze on its heav’nly rays,
Till they find the King, whose throne they sought afar,
In the Babe of Bethlehem.

Refrain

Silver star, holy light,
Shine afar, o’er the night,
Till the world shall come where the young Child lay,
And enter the gates of the newborn day.

’Tis the lamp of God high hanging in the air,
’Tis the lamp of God high hanging in the air,
And it guides our feet thro’ the royal street;
There is sweet soul-rest for those who seek it there,
From the Babe of Bethlehem.

Refrain

Bring your gifts of gold, of frankincense and myrrh,
Bring your gifts of gold, of frankincense and myrrh,
For the King we own is on David’s throne;
Let the holy Child your best affections stir;
’Tis the Babe of Bethlehem.

Refrain

There’s a beautiful star, a beautiful star,
The weary travelers have followed far,
Shining so brightly all the way,
Till it stood o’er the place where the young Child lay.

Refrain

Star, star, beautiful star!
Pilgrims weary we are;
To Jesus, to Jesus,
We follow thee from afar.

In the land of the East, in the shadows of night,
We saw the glory of thy new light,
Telling us, in our distant home,
The King-Redeemer to earth hath come!

Refrain

We have gold for tribute and gifts for prayer,
Incense of myrrh, and spices rare:
All that we have, we hither bring,
To lay it with joy at the feet of the King.

Refrain

Whence comes this rush of wings afar,
Following straight the Noël star?
Birds from the woods in wondrous flight,
Bethlehem seek this holy night.

“Tell us, ye birds, why come ye here,
Into this stable, poor and drear?”
“Hast’ning we seek the newborn King,
And all our sweetest music bring.”

Hark how the greenfinch bears his part,
Philomel, too, with tender heart,
Chants from her leafy dark retreat,
Re, mi, fa, sol, in accents sweet.

Angels and shepherds, birds of the sky,
Come where the Son of God doth lie;
Christ on the earth with man doth dwell,
Join in the shout, “Noël, Noël!”

Where is the holy Heav’n-born Child,
Heir of the everlasting throne,
Who Heav’n and earth hath reconciled,
And God and man rejoined in one?

Shall we of earthly kings inquire,
To courts or palaces repair?
The nation’s Hope, the world’s Desire,
Alas! we cannot find Him there.

Shall learning show the sinner’s Friend,
Or scribes a sight of Christ afford?
Us to His natal place they send,
But never go to see their Lord.

We search the outward Church in vain,
They cannot Him we seek declare,
They have not found the Son of Man,
Or known the sacred Name they bear.

Then let us turn no more aside,
But use the light Himself imparts,
His Spirit is our surest Guide,
His Spirit glimmering in our hearts.

Drawn by His grace we come from far,
And fix on Heav’n our wistful eyes,
That ray divine, that orient star
Directs us where the Infant lies.

See there! the newborn Savior see,
By faith discern the great I AM;
’Tis He! the eternal God! ’tis He
That bears the mild Immanuel’s Name.

The Prince of Peace on earth is found,
The Child is born, the Son is giv’n;
Tell it to all the nations round,
Jehovah is come down from Heav’n!

Jehovah is come down to raise
His dying creatures from their fall,
And all may now receive the grace
Which brings eternal life to all.

Lord, we receive the grace and Thee,
With joy unspeakable receive,
And rise Thine open face to see,
And one with God for ever live.