Hail, Bethlehem! favour’d city, hail!

And hail thou star, with lustre mild,

Whose light, unerring, points the way

Of sages, to the holy Child!

Yes, ye were wise—and heaven-taught knew

The language of that mystic ray,

Which led you far from Persia’s plains,

From twilight dim, to noontide day.

True to the light that star arose

On you, though far from Salem’s towers;

That star to Bethlehem leads you where

The righteous Sun his radiance pours.

And thus may we our way pursue,

Improve our rising dawn of grace,

Which, followed, will to Jesus lead,

Jesus, our “Sun of Righteousness.”