Once the Lord, for our salvation,

Left the realm of endless bliss;

And to serve, in lowly station,

Came to such a world as this.

Weary oft He toiled in weakness,

Winning erring lives from wrong;

Dwelling with the poor in meekness,

Bidding fainting souls be strong;

Bearing scorn and rude deriding,

From the proud who passed Him by;

Never the repentant chiding

For their guilt and misery.

For His heart with love o'erflowing,

Bound Him to our needy race;

Day by day the gifts bestowing

From the fulness of His grace.

Once upon a cross uplifted,

Did the Lord for sinners die,

That there might to man be gifted,

Life, to live eternally.

Shall I then with such a Giver,

Claim whate'er I have as mine?

Nay, myself and mine, for ever,

To His service I resign.