THEIR GIFTS
FRANKINCENSE they brought Him and gold and myrrh,
Those men who came out of the dawn,
Each tracking his way from a far-off land
Through lush of blossom or drift of sand
To the manger where He was born.
Those men who came out of the dawn,
Each tracking his way from a far-off land
Through lush of blossom or drift of sand
To the manger where He was born.
Strange gifts for a child, but the wise men knew
All the wonder the future would hold;
For them His marvelous star had flamed white,
And each, by its calm, transfiguring light
Read the prophecies eons old.
All the wonder the future would hold;
For them His marvelous star had flamed white,
And each, by its calm, transfiguring light
Read the prophecies eons old.
And their three-fold gift they spread at His feet:
"Incense for a priest," one cried;
And one whose voice had a victory ring
Flung down his tribute: "Here's gold for a king!"
And: "Myrrh for healing," one sighed.
"Incense for a priest," one cried;
And one whose voice had a victory ring
Flung down his tribute: "Here's gold for a king!"
And: "Myrrh for healing," one sighed.
And the wise men's gifts foreshadowed His life—
Each bearing its mystic part—
Though His priestly robe was a mantle of scorn
And His kingly crown was a platted thorn,
Yet He healed the world's sad heart.
Each bearing its mystic part—
Though His priestly robe was a mantle of scorn
And His kingly crown was a platted thorn,
Yet He healed the world's sad heart.