Skip to content

A copy of Advent Hymnals. Open this page on adventhymnals.org →

Advent Hymnals

SDA Hymnal 141

What Child Is This?

Words: William C. DixMusic: English balladTune: Greensleeves8.7.8.7 with Refrain

Studio

1What child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary's lap is sleeping?
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

RefrainThis, this is Christ the King,
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The babe, the son of Mary.

2Why lies He in such mean estate
Where ox and ass are feeding?
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

3So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,
Come, peasant, king, to own Him;
The King of kings salvation brings,
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Scripture
Luke 2:1-20

The verse

Meter
8.7.8.7 · as printed
Foot
iambic (da-DUM) · 80% of beats fit
Rhyme
ABCB
Scan every line

/ stressed · ˘ unstressed · ? not in the dictionary

Verse 1

What child is this, who, laid to rest,˘/˘˘˘/˘/8A
On Mary's lap is sleeping?˘/˘/˘/˘7B
Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,˘/˘/˘/˘/8C
While shepherds watch are keeping?//˘/˘/˘7B

Verse 2

Why lies He in such mean estate//˘˘//˘/8A
Where ox and ass are feeding?//˘/˘/˘7B
Good Christian, fear: for sinners here//˘/˘/˘/8C
The silent Word is pleading.˘/˘/˘/˘7B

Verse 3

So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh,˘/˘///˘/8A
Come, peasant, king, to own Him;//˘/˘/˘7B
The King of kings salvation brings,˘/˘/˘/˘/8C
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.//˘/??˘7B

Refrain

This, this is Christ the King,˘˘˘/˘/6A
Whom shepherds guard and angels sing:˘/˘/˘/˘/8A
Haste, haste to bring Him laud,//˘/˘/6B
The babe, the son of Mary.˘/˘/˘/˘7C

Counted by machine from the CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. It cannot hear emphasis or a poet’s licence, so treat it as a place to start reading, not the last word.