When Morning Gilds the Skies - Hymn

We Three Kings of Orient are Lyrics

We three kings of Orient are;
Bearing gifts, we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain,
Following yonder star.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Gold

Born a king on Bethlehem’s plain,
Gold I bring to crown Him again,
King Forever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Frankincense

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh;
Prayer and praising, voices raising,
Worshipping God on high.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Myrrh

Myrrh is mine, its bitter perfume
Breathes a life of gathering gloom
Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
Sealed in the tone cold tomb.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

King and God and Sacrifice

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and sacrifice;
Alleluia, alleluia,
Sounds through the earth and skies.

Refrain: O star of wonder, star of light,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading, still proceeding,
Guide us to thy perfect light.

Notes on the Lyrics

John Henry Hopkins, Jr. wrote this hymn for a Christmas festival at General Theological Seminary, New York City, in 1857. He published it in 1863, in his collection, Carols, Hymns, and Songs. It is a theologically rich hymn. In its stanzas, each of the three kings offers a gift to the Christ child and explains the symbolism. The final stanza and refrain invite all Christians to reflect and offer praise— “king and God and sacrifice.”

About the Author Larry Frazier

Larry spent 24 years teaching music at the University of West Georgia to over 6,000 students. Ten years ago, Larry and his wife Mary Lynn, received comfort, support and inspiration from traditional Christian hymns while she overcame stage-three colon cancer. Larry is on a mission to help you discover God’s incredible power through the intersection of faith and Christian music in your life.