Our Lord and Savior, from Thy birth,
Thy footsteps to the cross we trace;
And all along Thy path on earth,
We see Thee take the lowest place.
The world — its bitter hate and scorn,
Was met by Thee with patient grace;
Its taunts in meekest silence borne,
For Thou didst take the lowest place.
Thus didst Thou pour contempt on pride,
The pride of Adam’s fallen race:
For Thou didst all Thy glory hide,
To take for man the lowest place.
And for Thy Church Thou didst indeed,
Ο gracious Lord, Thyself abase;
As servant of Thy people’s need,
Stoop down to take the lowest place.
That we might learn Thy lowly mind
(So fully hast Thou met our case)
And also have the joy to find,
Thy presence in the lowest place.
Yea, from the manger, to the cross,
We see Thee go with steadfast pace,
Enduring grief, reproach, and loss,
To suffer in the lowest place.
“A little while” our Lord, and we,
In glory shall behold Thy face,
Teach us till then, to take with Thee,
Thy place on earth — the lowest place.