Kings of Orient

Holy Three Kings

We three kings of Orient are ( We are three kings from the Orient ) is a popular English Christmas carol . Text and music come from the American John Henry Hopkins (1820-1891).

In it the three kings , who in the Gospel ( Mt 2  EU ) are referred to as the wise men from the east , introduce themselves one after the other. Her three gifts point to Jesus Christ as King and God and Sacrifice .

There are numerous arrangements and recordings of the song in different styles.

text

English

translation

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 night, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to thy perfect light. Born a King on Bethlehem's plain Gold I bring to crown Him again, King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign. refrain Frankincense to offer have I; Incense owns a deity nigh; Prayer and praising, voices raising, worshiping God on high. refrain Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, sealed in the stone cold tomb. refrain Glorious now behold Him arise; King and God and sacrifice; Alleluia, Alleluia, Sounds through the earth and skies. refrain

(All three) We are three kings from the Orient, we bring gifts from afar, across fields and springs, moor and mountains, we follow that star. Refrain Oh star of wonder, star of night, Star with bright royal beauty, Leading westwards, further ahead, Guide us to your perfect light. ( Melchior ) A king was born on Bethlehem's soil, I bring gold to crown him again, King for ever, ceaselessly, to rule over us all. Refrain ( Caspar ) I have to offer frankincense, frankincense is close to a deity, prayer and praise, everyone raises their voices, worship him, God on high. Refrain ( Balthasar ) Myrrh comes from me, its bitter scent Breaths a life of accumulated gloom; Mourn, sigh, bleed, die, sealed in the ice-cold grave. Refrain (All) Glorious now see him rise; King and God and Sacrifice; Hallelujah, Hallelujah, it sounds over earth and heaven. Refrain

Web links

• We Three Kings Of Orient Are

Videos

• Sound samples: a ( David Willcocks ), b (children's choir); c ( Miles Davis ), d ( Paul Horn )

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Well-known choral versions, for example, come from the English composers Martin Shaw ( Oxford Book of Carols ) and David Willcocks ( 100 Carols for Choirs ).
2. ↑ night, instead of: “light” (at wikisource)
3. ↑ en.wikisource.org/wiki - In other versions are the last two verses: Heav'n sings Alleluya / Alleluya the earth replies: .

Kings of Orient (alternative names of the lemma)
We three kings of Orient are; Kings of Orient; We Three Kings; The Quest of the Magi