Hush! My dear, lie still and slumber

General information

This is a song by Isaac Watts, Song 8 from Divine and Moral Songs for Children, 1720.

Settings by composers (automated)

• Philip Le Bas — Watt's Cradle Carol  English SATB
• Jean-Jacques Rousseau — Hush my babe  English Unison

 

Text and translations

English text Hush! my dear, lie still and slumber, Holy angels guard thy bed! Heavenly blessings without number Gently falling on thy head. Sleep, my babe; thy food and raiment, House and home, thy friends provide; All without thy care or payment: All thy wants are well supplied. How much better thou'rt attended Than the Son of God could be, When from heaven He descended And became a child like thee! Soft and easy is thy cradle: Coarse and hard thy Savior lay, When His birthplace was a stable And His softest bed was hay. Blessèd babe! what glorious features— Spotless fair, divinely bright! Must He dwell with brutal creatures? How could angels bear the sight? Was there nothing but a manger Cursèd sinners could afford To receive the heavenly stranger? Did they thus affront their Lord? Soft, my child: I did not chide thee, Though my song might sound too hard; 'Tis thy mother sits beside thee, And her arms shall be thy guard. Yet to read the shameful story How the Jews abused their King, How they served the Lord of Glory, Makes me angry while I sing. See the kinder shepherds round Him, Telling wonders from the sky! Where they sought Him, there they found Him, With His Virgin mother by. See the lovely babe a-dressing; Lovely infant, how He smiled! When He wept, the mother's blessing Soothed and hush'd the holy child. Lo, He slumbers in His manger, Where the horned oxen fed: Peace, my darling; here 's no danger, Here's no ox anear thy head. 'Twas to save thee, child, from dying, Save my dear from burning flame, Bitter groans and endless crying, That thy blest Redeemer came. May'st thou live to know and fear Him, Trust and love Him all thy days; Then go dwell for ever near Him, See His face, and sing His praise! I could give thee thousand kisses, Hoping most what I desire; Not a mother's fondest wishes Can to greater joys aspire. External links add links here