1 Ere the blue heav’ns were stretch'd abroad,
From everlasting was the Word:
With God He was; the Word was God,
And must divinely be adored.

2 By His own power were all things made;
By Him supported all things stand:
He is the whole creation’s Head,
And angels fly at His command.

3 But lo! He leaves those heav’nly forms,
The Word descends and dwells in clay,
That He may converse hold with worms,
Dressed in such feeble flesh as they.

4 Mortals with joy beheld His face,
Th’eternal Father’s only Son;
How full of truth! how full of grace!
When through His form the Godhead shone.

5 Archangels leave their high abode,
To learn new mysteries here, and tell
The love of our descending God,
The glories of Immanuel.