December 22, 2005

Have faith in God –
And the witness sevenfold;
Have faith in God –
For His Word be ever bold;
Have faith in God –
And the greatest story told.
Have faith, dear friend, in God.

Good Christian Men, Rejoice

Heinrich Suso, ?-1366
Translated from Latin to English by John Mason Neale, 1851-1934

    Shout for joy, O heavens; rejoice, O earth; burst into song, O mountains! For the LORD comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. Isaiah 49:13.

    "Good Christian Men, Rejoice" is an unusual combination of 14th Century Latin phrases and vernacular German expressions. The original Latin was titled "In Dulci Jubilo", meaning "in sweet shouting". Over the years German people added their own wording, making this a "macaronic carol"--one that combines two or more languages. The carol was later given a free rendering English translation by John M. Neale, the noted 19th Century scholar and translator of ancient hymns. It first appeared in Neale's Carols for Christmastide in 1853.

Good Christian men, rejoice
With heart and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say:
News! News! Jesus Christ is born today;
Ox and ass before Him bow;
And He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

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 the heavenly door,
And man is blest forevermore.
Christ was born for this! Christ was born for this!

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!

Have Faith in God by H.M.S. Richards, Used by Permission