Home › Hymns › Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
The Faith We Sing · No. 2099 · Words: Traditional (14th-century German carol) · Tune: JOSEPH LIEBER, JOSEPH MEIN
Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
Create PowerPoint slides from this hymn →A 14th-century German Christmas carol depicting a tender dialogue between Mary and Joseph as they cradle the infant Jesus in Bethlehem. One of the oldest surviving Christmas carols, it moves between Mary's plea for help and Joseph's willing, loving response.
Verse 1
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.
Refrain
He came among us at Christmas-time,
at Christmastide, in Bethlehem;
let us bring him from far and wide
Love's diadem:
Jesus, Jesus,
lo, he comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!
Verse 2
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.
Refrain
He came among us at Christmas-time,
at Christmastide, in Bethlehem;
let us bring him from far and wide
Love's diadem:
Jesus, Jesus,
lo, he comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!
Verse 3
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.
Refrain
He came among us at Christmas-time,
at Christmastide, in Bethlehem;
let us bring him from far and wide
Love's diadem:
Jesus, Jesus,
lo, he comes, and loves, and saves, and frees us!
Appears in these collections
Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine is in the public domain. Make a free PowerPoint, PDF, or image set for church projection with Song Slides — no signup.