Nativity Hymn 5: The Shepherds Bring a Lamb

At the birth of the Son there was great shouting in Bethlehem, for the angels came down and gave praise there. Their voices were a great thunder; at that voice of praise the silent ones came and gave praise to the Son.

Blessed be that Babe in whom Eve and Adam were made young again! The shepherds too came, laden with the best gifts of their flocks: sweet milk, clean meat, and fitting praise! They made a distinction, and gave Joseph the meat, Mary the milk, and the Son the praise! They brought a suckling lamb and presented it to the Paschal Lamb: a firstborn to the Firstborn, a sacrifice to the Sacrifice, a lamb of time to the Lamb of Truth. A fair sight it was, the lamb offered to the Lamb!

The lamb bleated as it was offered before the Firstborn. It praised the Lamb who had come to set the flocks and the oxen free from sacrifices; yes, that Paschal Lamb who handed down and brought in the Passover of the Son. [a]

The shepherds came near and worshiped him with their staffs. They greeted him with peace, prophesying as they did so: “Peace, O Prince of the Shepherds.” The rod of Moses praised your Rod, O Shepherd of all; for Moses praises you, although his lambs have become wolves, his flocks like dragons, and his sheep fanged beasts. In the fearful wilderness his flocks grew furious and attacked him. [b]

So the shepherds praise you, because you have reconciled the wolves and the lambs within the fold; O Babe, older than Noah and younger than Noah, who reconciled all within the ark amid the waves!

David your father killed a lion for a lamb’s sake. You, O Son of David, have killed the unseen wolf that murdered Adam, the simple lamb who grazed and bleated in Paradise.

At that voice of praise, brides were moved to keep themselves holy, and virgins to be chaste, and even young girls grew serious; they came forward in crowds and worshiped the Son.

Old women of the city of David came to the daughter of David; they gave thanks and said: “Blessed be our country, whose streets are lit with the rays of Jesse! Today the throne of David is established by you, O Son of David.”

The old men cried out: “Blessed be that Son who made Adam young again, who was grieved to see that he was old and worn out, and that the serpent who had killed him had changed his skin and gotten himself away. Blessed be the Babe in whom Adam and Eve were made young again.”

The chaste women said: “O Blessed Fruit, bless the fruit of our wombs; may they be given to you as firstborn.” They grew fervent and prophesied about their children, who, when they were killed for him, were cut off like first fruits. [c]

The barren women too fondled him and carried him; they rejoiced and said: “Blessed Fruit, born without marriage, bless the wombs of us who are married; have mercy on our barrenness, O wonderful Child of Virginity!”