In His Temple Now Behold Him

This is a Christmas-season hymn, which is particularly appropriate for the feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Verses 1-3 of were written by Church of England minister, and later Roman Catholic convert, Henry J. Pye (1825-1903), while verse 4 is by a Church of England clergyman, hymn-writer, and translator, William Cooke (1821-1894).

With meter 8.7.8.7.8.7, tunes it has been set to include:

WESTMINSTER ABBEY by Henry Purcell, around 1692
ST THOMAS aka the tune used for Tantum Ergo, by Samuel Webbe (1740-1816)
REGENT SQUARE (Smart) by Henry Thomas Smart (1866)
SIEH HIER BIN ICH, from the Geistreiches Gesangbuch, Darmstadt 1698
MANNHEIM by Friedrich Filitz (1804-76)

Downloads

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PowerPoint slides

Setting by Robert Wetzler for organ, based on on WESTMINISTER ABBEY

Examples

Choir with organ, recorded in a church-service, tune TANTUM ERGO

Choir with piano - professional recording, tune TBA

Instrumental, electronic organ, tune WESTMINISTER ABBEY

Choir with piano, professional recording

Lyrics

In His temple now behold Him,
See the long expected Lord;
Ancient prophets had foretold Him,
God has now fulfilled His word.
Now to praise Him, His redeemed
Shall break forth with one accord.

In the arms of her who bore Him,
Virgin pure, behold Him lie,
While his aged saints adore Him
Ere in faith and hope they die.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lo, th’incarnate God most high.

Jesus, by thy presentation,
Thou, who didst for us endure,
Make us see our great salvation,
Seal us with thy promise sure.
And present us in thy glory
To thy Father, cleansed and pure.

Prince and author of salvation,
Be thy boundless love our theme!
Jesus, praise to thee be given
By the world thou didst redeem.
With the Father and the Spirit,
Lord of majesty supreme!