Jesus, Humble was your Birth

This is a hymn about Jesus, and his humility, strength and trust. Written in the mid1960s, it is in the style of a traditional hymn, but with simple, direct, language compared with many hymns of the time.

It was written by English Anglican priest and at the time youth-minister Patrick Appleford (1925-2018) and first published by Josef Weinberger Ltd in 1965.

With meter 7.7.7.7, tunes it has been set to include:

BUCKLAND (Hayne) by English Anglican priest, organist and composer, Leighton G. Hayne (1836-1883) - this the most commonly used tune for the hymn
PETERSFIELD (Harris) by William H. Harris (1883-1973)
CATHERINE by Fr Gerard Beaumont - this was the tune that the hymn was originally set to.

Hymn-books where it has been published in include:

Ancient and Modern: hymns and songs for refreshing worship, Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd, London, England, 2013
Anglican Hymns Old and New, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, England, 2008
Common Praise: A new edition of Hymns Ancient and Modern, Canterbury Press, 2000
Hymns Ancient and Modern, New Standard Edition, 1983
New Church Praise, The Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh,, Scotland in 1975
27 20th Century Hymns., 1965

Photo © www.GodSongs.net - may be freely used as is, but not adapted

Downloads

This section may contain affiliate links: I earn from qualifying purchases on these. Free downloads are provided where possible (eg for public domain items).

Examples

Choir with organ, live in a church-service

Instrumental - organ

Instrumental - piano. Sheet music on screen

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

1. Jesus, humble was your birth
when you came from heaven to earth;
Every day in all we do,
make us humble, Lord, like you.

2. Jesus, strong to help and heal,
showing that your love is real;
Every day in all we do,
make us strong and kind like you.

3. Jesus, when you were betrayed,
still you trusted God and prayed;
Every day in all we do,
Help us trust and pray like you.

4. Jesus, risen from the dead,
with us always, as you said;
Eevery day in all we do,
Help us live and love like you.

3. original words - the adapted version above is now usually used
Jesus, when you were betrayed,
Even on the Cross you prayed:
Trusting in your Father’s care, Loving all men everywhere.