33. Of the Father's heart begotten

1 Of the Father's heart begotten,
Ere the world from chaos rose,
He is Alpha: from that Fountain
All that is and hath been flows;
He is Omega, of all things
Yet to come the mystic Close,
Evermore and evermore.

2 *By his word was all created;
He commanded and 'twas done;
Earth and sky and boundless ocean,
Universe of three in one,
All that sees the moon's soft radiance,
All that breathes beneath the sun,
Evermore and evermore.

3 *He assumed this mortal body,
Frail and feeble, doomed to die,
That the race from dust created
Might not perish utterly,
Which the dreadful Law had sentenced
In the depths of hell to lie,
Evermore and evermore.

4 O how blest that wondrous birthday,
When the Maid the curse retrieved,
Brought to birth mankind's salvation,
By the Holy Ghost conceived;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
In her loving arms received,
Evermore and evermore.

5 This is he, whom seer and sibyl
Sang in ages long gone by;
This is he of old revealèd
In the page of prophecy;
Lo! he comes, the promised Saviour;
let the world his praises cry!
Evermore and evermore.

6 Let the storm and summer sunshine,
Gliding stream and sounding shore,
Sea and forest, frost and zephyr,
Day and night their Lord adore;
Let creation join to laud thee
Through the ages evermore,
Evermore and evermore.

7 Sing, ye heights of heaven, his praises;
Angels and Archangels, sing!
Wheresoe'er ye be, ye faithful,
Let your joyous anthems ring,
Every tongue his name confessing,
Countless voices answering,
Evermore and evermore.

Text Information
First Line: Of the Father's heart begotten
Latin Title: Corde natus ex parentis
Author: Prudentius, 348-413
Translator: R. F. Davis, 1866-1937
Meter: 87 87 87 7
Language: English
Publication Date: 1986
Topic: Procession; The Christian Year: Christmas; The Presentation of Christ in the Temple: February 2nd
Tune Information
Name: DIVINUM MYSTERIUM
Meter: 87 87 87 7
Key: E Major
Source: Piae Cantiones Theoderici Petri Nylandensis, 1582



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