Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine

"Joseph dearest, Joseph mine,
Help me cradle the child divine;
God reward thee and All that's thine
In paradise,"
So prays the mother Mary.

[Chorus:]
He came among us at Christmastide,
At Christmastide, in Bethlehem;
Men shall bring Him from far and wide
Love's diadem: Jesus, Jesus,
Lo, He comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!

"Gladly, dear one, lady mine,
Help I cradle this child of thine;
God's own light on us both shall shine
In paradise,
As prays the mother Mary."

[Chorus]

Peace to all that have goodwill!
God, who heaven and earth doth fill,
Comes to turn us away from ill,
And lies so still
Within the crib of Mary.

[Chorus]

All shall come and bow the knee,
Wise and happy their souls shall be.
Loving such a divinity
As all may see
In Jesus, Son of Mary.

[Chorus]

Now is born Emmanual,
Prophesied once by Ezekiel,
Promised Mary by Gabriel,
Ah, who can tell
Thy praises, Son of Mary.

[Chorus]

Thou my lazy heart hast stirred,
Thou, the Father's eternal Word,
Greater than aught that ear has heard,
Thou tiny bird
Of love, thou Son of Mary.

[Chorus]

Sweet and lovely little one,
Thou princely, beautiful, God's own Son,
Without thee all of us were undone;
Our love is Won
By thing, O Son of Mary.

[Chorus]

Little man, and God indeed,
Little and poor, thou art all we need;
We will follow where thou dost lead,
And we will heed
Our brother, born of Mary.

[Chorus]