| 1 Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ was born today. Ox and ass before him bow, and he is in the manger now. Christ is born today! Christ is born today! |
3 Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye need not fear the grave: Peace! Peace! Jesus Christ was born to save! Calls you one and calls you all to gain his everlasting hall. Christ was born to save! Christ was born to save! |
| 2 Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul and voice; now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy! Joy! Jesus Christ was born for this! He has opened heaven’s door, and we are blest forevermore. Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this! |
Now, on the night before the feast of All Angels, it seemed to him (Dominican friar Heinrich Seuse, 1295–1366), in a vision that he heard angelic strains and sweet heavenly melody, and this filled him with such gladness that he forgot all his sufferings. Then one of the angels said to him, “Behold, with what joy thou dost hear us sing the song of eternity; even so, with like joy, do we hear thee sing the song of the venerable Eternal Wisdom.” He added further: “This is a portion of the song which the dear elect saints will sing joyously at the last day, when they shall see themselves confirmed in the everlasting bliss of eternity.” . . .
Now this same angel came up to the Servitor right blithely, and said that God had sent them down to him (Heinrich Seuse, a Dominican friar, 1295–1366), to bring him heavenly joys amid his sufferings, adding that he must cast off all his sorrows from his mind and bear them company, and that he must also dance with them in heavenly fashion. Then they drew the Servitor by the hand into the dance, and the youth began a joyous ditty about the infant Jesus, which runs thus: “In dulci jubilo,” &c. When the Servitor heard the dear Name of Jesus sounding thus sweetly, he became so blithesome in heart and feeling, that the very memory of his sufferings vanished. It was a joy to him to see how exceeding loftily and freely they bounded in the dance. The leader of the song knew right well how to guide them, and he sang first, and they sang after him in the jubilee of their hearts. Thrice the leader repeated the burden [refrain] of the song, “Ergo merito,” &c. This dance was not of a kind like those which are danced in this world, but it was a heavenly movement, swelling up and falling back again into the wild abyss of God’s hiddenness.
| Latin/German Text (set by J.S. Bach) | English Translation |
| 1. In dulci jubilo, Nun singet und seid froh! Unsers Herzens Wonne liegt in praesepio, Und leuchtet als die Sonne Matris in gremio, Alpha es et O! |
In dulci jubilo [In quiet joy] Let us our homage show Our heart’s joy reclineth In praesepio [in a manger] And like a bright star shineth Matris in gremio [in the mother’s lap] Alpha es et O. [Thou art Alpha & Omega] |
| 2. O Jesu parvule Nach dir ist mir so weh! Tröst’ mir mein Gemüte O puer optime Durch alle deine Güte O princeps gloriae. Trahe me post te! |
2. O Jesu parvule [O tiny Jesus] I yearn for thee alway Listen to my ditty O puer optima [O best of boys] Have pity on me, pity O princeps gloriae, [Prince of glory] Trahe me post te. [draw me unto thee] |
| 3. O Patris caritas! O Nati lenitas! Wir wären all verloren (verdorben) Per nostra crimina So hat er uns erworben Coelorum gaudia Eia, wären wir da! |
3. O patris caritas [O father’s caring] O nati lenitas [O newborn’s mildness] Deeply were we stained Per nostra crimina [by our crimes] But thou hast for us gained Coelorum gaudia [heavenly joy] O that we were there. |
| 4. Ubi sunt gaudia Nirgend mehr denn da! Da die Engel singen Nova cantica, Und die Schellen klingen In regis curia.Eia, wären wir da! |
4. Ubi sunt gaudia [where be joys] If that they be not there There are angels singing Nova cantina [new songs] There the bells are ringing In regis curia [at the king’s court] O that we were there. |
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https://1000-good-songs.org/p/937