1 We three kings of Orient are;
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
Refrain:
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
2 Born a King on Bethlehem's plain,
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign. [Refrain]
3 Frankincense to offer have I;
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high. [Refrain]
4 Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb. [Refrain]
5 Glorious now behold him arise;
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies. [Refrain]
John H. Hopkins
The Methodist Hymnal 1939 edition
<idle musing>
This hymn is loaded with good theology, despite the fact that there weren't three kings. That's a Christian tradition based on the three gifts. On more than one occasion, I've mentioned what a great hymn this is, only to have the person get all bent out of shape because it says "three kings." When I point out that the important thing is the theology of the hymn, they just can't get past those three kings.
Sorry, but that is majoring on the minors and missing the point. But, it seems to sum up too many people's (especially evangelicals') approach to all things biblical and theological. I've often said that we need fewer people approaching the scripture (and theology) as engineers and more approaching it with a literary and mystical vision. Scripture isn't a sourcebook for systematic theology as much as it is a rich narrative of God's overarching purpose in history. Yes, Virginia, there is a metanarrative!
By the way, be sure to check out the biography of the author. He was definitely a man of many talents; He even delivered the eulogy at U. S. Grant's funeral!
</idle musing>
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