HYMN: Once in royal David's city | Nigba kan ni Betlehemu

ENGLISH LYRICS: Once in royal David's city

Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. Matt. 2:1

1.  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 her little child.

2. 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.

3. And through all His wondrous childhood
    He would honour and obey
    Love, and watch the lowly maiden
    In whose gently arms He lay
    Christian children all must be
    Mild, obedient, good as He.

4. For He is our childhood's pattern;
    Day by day like us He grew;
    He was little, weak, and helpless;
    Tears and smiles like us He knew
    And He feeleth for our sadness,
    And He shareth in our gladness.

5. 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.

6. 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 crown'd
    All in white shall wait around.

Amen.

YORUBA LYRICS:  Nigba kan ni Betlehemu

A si bi Jesu ni Betlehemu ti Judea. Mat. 2:1

1. Nigba kan ni Betlehemu,
   Ile kekere kan wa,
   Nib’ iya kan te ‘mo re si,
   Lori ibuje eran;
   Maria n’iya omo na,
   Jesu Krist si l’omo na.

2. O t’orun wa s’ode aye,
   On l’Olorun Oluwa;
   O f'ile eran se ile
   ‘Buje eran fun ‘busun;
   Lodo awon otosi,
   Ni Jesu gbe li aye.

3. Ni gbogbo igba ewe Re,
   O ngboran, O si mb’ola;
   O feran, O si nteriba,
   Fun iya ti ntoju Re!
   O ye ki gbogb’ omode
   K’o se olugboran be

4. ‘Tori On je awose wa,
   A ma dagba bi awa;
   O kere ko le da nkan se,
   A ma sokun bi awa;
   O si le ba wa daro,
   O le ba wa yo pelu.

5. Ao f’oju wa ri nikehin
   Ni agbara ife Re;
   Nitori omo rere yi
   Ni Oluwa wa l’orun;
   O nto awa omo Re
   S’ona ibiti On lo.

6. Ki se ni ibuje eran
   Nibiti malu njeun
   L’awa o ri, sugbon l’orun
   Lowo otun Olorun;
   ‘Gba won ‘mo Re b’irawo
   Ba wa n’nu aso ala.
Amin.

Composed by Cecil Frances Alexander