Each month, Living Lutheran will share history and fun facts behind some beloved Lutheran hymns.
We Three Kings of Orient Are
By John Hopkins Jr.
We three kings of orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain,
moor and mountain,
following yonder star
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright;
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light!
Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain,
gold I bring to crown him again;
king forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.
Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a deity nigh;
prayer and praising,
voices raising,
worshiping God most high.
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright;
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light
Myrrh is mine;
its bitter perfume breathes
a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone cold tomb
Glorious now behold him arise,
King and God and Sacrifice;
hallelujah, hallelujah;
heaven to earth replies.
O star of wonder, star of night,
star with royal beauty bright;
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light!
