“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” – Winkworth Lyrics

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An English Translation of “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her”

Music: Martin Luther, 1539
English Text: Catherine Winkworth, 1855

From Heaven Above

Sheet music from THE CHORALE BOOK FOR ENGLAND, Congregational Edition, London (1863/1865), Translator: Catherine Winkworth.

In 1855 Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) published her translation of all 15 verses of Martin Luther’s “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her” as “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come.” London-born Winkworth was a noted British translator of German hymns into English, but she also translated biographies of noted German religious people into English.

In 1845, she spent a year in Dresden, Germany, where she developed an interest in German hymns. Her English version of Luther’s German original of “From Heaven Above” follows his words rather closely. Luther based his text on Bible verses (Luke 2) describing the Nativity of Jesus.

Winkworth was also an advocate for women’s rights, and was the secretary of the Clifton Association for Higher Education for Women, and a supporter of the Clifton High School for Girls. She died suddenly of heart disease near Geneva, Switzerland on July 1, 1878.

Also see a video version of this carol in English below.

NOTE: The 1865 edition lyrics (Hymn 30) vary from the 1855 version below. One example of the minor differences: “virgin mild” versus “mother mild” in the second verse.

“From Heaven Above to Earth I Come”

English Translation of Luther’s German “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her”
by Catherine Winkworth (1855) | The version used in the Lutheran Hymnal (1941).

1.
From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I now will say and sing:

2.
To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen virgin mild;
This little child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all the earth.

3.
This is the Christ, our God and Lord,
Who in all need shall aid afford;
He will Himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free.

4.
He will on you the gifts bestow
Prepared by God for all below,
That in His kingdom, bright and fair,
You may with us His glory share.

5.
These are the tokens ye shall mark:
The swaddling-clothes and manger dark;
There ye shall find the Infant laid
By whom the heavens and earth were made.

6.
Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Go with the shepherds and draw near
To see the precious gift of God,
Who hath His own dear Son bestowed.

7.
Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
What is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this child, so young and fair?
The blessed Christ-child lieth there.

8.
Welcome to earth, Thou noble Guest,
Through whom the sinful world is blest!
Thou com’st to share my misery;
What thanks shall I return to Thee?

9.
Ah, Lord, who hast created all,
How weak art Thou, how poor and small,
That Thou dost choose Thine infant bed
Where humble cattle lately fed!

10.
Were earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
It yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for Thee.

11.
For velvets soft and silken stuff
Thou hast but hay and straw so rough,
Whereon Thou, King, so rich and great,
As ’twere Thy heaven, art throned in state.

12.
And thus, dear Lord, it pleaseth Thee
To make this truth quite plain to me,
That all the world’s wealth, honor, might,
Are naught and worthless in Thy sight.

13.
Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.

14.
My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I, too, must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle-song:

15.
Glory to God in highest heaven,
Who unto us His Son hath given!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new year to all the earth.

VIDEO: “From Heaven Above to Earth I Come” by the Lutheran Quartet
Sung a cappella with on-screen English lyrics

MORE > Also see a video of the German version of this carol on this page: “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her” (German and English lyrics side by side).

MORE > The German Way Advent Calendar with Christmas facts (in season)

Next | German Christmas Carol Lyrics in German and English

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