Hymn Desk
Hymn Texts /

We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth

We praise you, Jesus, at your birth

We Praise You, Jesus, at Your Birth is a hymn text by Martin Behm (1610) in L.M. (8.8.8.8) meter. Translated by Martin H. Behm. Found in elw 265, lbw 48, lsb 382, lw 35. Sung to HYFRYDOL.

This hymn celebrates the paradox of the Incarnation—the eternal Son of God humbling Himself to human birth—and calls the faithful to joyful praise in response to this mystery. It emphasizes Christ's redemptive birth as the means of human salvation and the reversal of sin's curse through divine humility and grace.

History & Background

Martin Behm's original German hymn 'Wir loben dich, Jesu, zu deiner Geburt' was published in the early 17th century and became a significant Christmas hymn in Lutheran hymnody. Martin H. Behm translated the text into English for the American Lutheran Hymnal in 1927.

Hymnal Appearances

  • Evangelical Lutheran Worship — 265
  • Lutheran Book of Worship — 48
  • Lutheran Service Book — 382
  • Lutheran Worship — 35
  • The Lutheran Hymnal — 80

Translation

Martin H. Behm

Bulletin Note

Martin Behm (1610) captures the Incarnation's central mystery through the tune Nun Lob Mein Seel. His text moves from amazement at God's condescension to joyful praise—the proper response to grace.

Preaching Connection

This hymn embodies the paradox at Christmas's heart: divine majesty humbling itself to human weakness, transforming the Law's curse into the Gospel's redemption, and calling forth our answering praise.

Stanza Arc

The narrative or theological arc traced by this tune's stanzas: Christological anticipation (St. 1-2) → Incarnational paradox (St. 3) → Pneumatological reign (St. 4)

Background Research

AI-assisted draft This background note was researched with AI from published hymnal sources and has not yet been checked line by line. Please verify details such as dates before relying on them.

LSB 382 (Hymn of the Day for Christmas Day). 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ': stanza 1 is a 14th-century German verse (in the Medingen manuscripts), derived from the Latin Christmas sequence 'Grates nunc omnes'. Before the Reformation it was one of only three German songs the people were allowed to sing in worship (with 'Christ ist erstanden' at Easter and 'Nun bitten wir' at Pentecost); this one came just before the Christmas Gospel. Luther added six stanzas (2–7), printed in 1524 and probably first sung in 1523, making it the first Christmas hymn of the Reformation. The hymn turns on paradoxes of the incarnation: the Creator held in Mary's arms (st. 3, Col 1:16–17), the 'Light Eternal' entering earthly time (sts. 4–5).

Sources: Canterbury Dictionary, 'Gelobet seist du, Jesu Christ' (preview); LCMS Worship, The Word in Song: Hymn of the Day Studies (Steven P. Mueller).

In the Church Year

Hymn of the Day (Lutheran Service Book) for: Christmas Day

Suggested in the one-year series

  • Christmas Day (7×)
  • Christmas Dawn (2×)
  • Holy Innocents (1×)
  • St. John (1×)

Suggested in the three-year series

  • Christmas Day (7×)
  • Christmas 1 (1×)
  • Christmas Dawn (1×)

From LCMS Worship's published hymn suggestions, 2014–2026. The count is how many of those yearly lists suggested this hymn for that day.

Themes

Nativity of Christ Incarnation Joy and praise Divine humility Redemption

Look Further