1 Once some wise men saw a star,
As they journeyed from afar
Over desert wastes and valleys fair;
Many weary leagues went they
Till they came where Jesus lay,
And they bent the knee of adoration there.

Chorus:
O the star, O the star,
O the star of Bethlehem!
And it shines for us today,
And will shine for us alway!
O the star, the blessed star of Bethlehem!

2 From celestial realms of light,
Thro' the arches of the night,
While the skies with songs of seraphs ring,
Shone that glorious, starry gem
O'er the town of Bethlehem,
Where the trav'lers worshipped Christ, the newborn King. [Chorus]

3 'Twas that star, whose splendors bright
Filled the world with flaming light
As it shone throughout the starry dome,
That proclaimed to all the earth
Tidings of Messiah's birth,
As it told that Christ, the Prince of Peace, was come. [Chorus]

4 Ever shine, O starry gem,
O'er the town of Bethlehem
Till the earth shall worship Christ, the King!
Till thy rays we all may see
Shining over land and sea,
And each nation unto him shall tribute bring! [Chorus]