1 Ere the blue heavens were stretch'd abroad, From everlasting was the Word; With God he was; the Word was God, And must divinely be ador'd.
2 By his own power were all things made; By him supported all things stand; He is the whole creation's head, And angels fly at his command.
3 Ere sin was born, or Satan fell, He led the host of morning stars; (Thy generation who can tell, Or count the number of thy years?)
4 But lo, he leaves those heavenly forms, The Word descends and dwells in clay, That he may hold converse with worms, Dress'd in such feeble flesh as they.
5 Mortals with joy beheld his face, Th' eternal Father's only Son; How full of truth! how full of grace! When thro' his eyes the Godhead shone!
6 Archangels leave their high abode To learn new mysteries here, and tell The loves of our descending God, The glories of Imannuel.