with a mingled hope and fear;
and the faithful few were sighing,
‘Surely, Lord, the day is near;
the Desire of all the nations,
it is time He should appear.’
2 In the sacred courts of Zion,
where the Lord had His abode,
there the money-changers trafficked,
and the sheep and oxen trod;
and the world, because of wisdom,
knew not either Lord or God.
3 Then the Spirit of the Highest
on a virgin meek came down,
and He burdened her with blessing,
and He pained her with renown;
for she bore the Lord’s Anointed,
for His cross and for His crown.
4 Earth for Him had groaned and travailed
since the ages first began;
for in Him was hid the secret
that through all the ages ran –
Son of Mary, Son of David,
Son of God, and Son of Man.
-Walter Chalmers Smith, 1824-1908
Tune # 203
