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Poems (Hoffman)/Bethlehem

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4566943Poems — BethlehemMartha Lavinia Hoffman
BETHLEHEM
(A Christmas Song.)
Bethlehem, fair Bethlehem!Judea's glittering lustrous gem!Of thee, unending songs shall sing,Thou birth-place of the Saviour, King.O Bethlehem, fair Bethlehem!Resplendent stars thy heavens gem;Stars that with holy radiance shineAnd angel songs are ever thine.
O Bethlehem, bright Bethlehem!No mist of time, thy light can dim.Thine every terraced, vine-wreathed hillIs lit with heavenly splendor still.O Bethlehem, bright Bethlehem!Thou loveliest in earth's diadem,An angel choir above thee singsThou birthplace of the King of Kings!
O Bethlehem, glad Bethlehem!We see thee as thou wast to themWho bore their costly gifts, afar,Beneath thy guiding eastern star.O Bethlehem, glad Bethlehem!We fain would sing of thee, with themWhose heaven-born songs majestic rolled,As heaven swung back her gates of gold.
O Bethlehem, blest Bethlehem!Judea's glittering, lustrous gem!Angelic songs seem still to fallIn hallowed music over all.O Bethlehem, blest Bethlehem!When, in the New Jerusalem,We greet again our Saviour, King;Our thoughts will turn to thee and sing.