In the Bleak Midwinter - Traditional

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim, worship night and day,
Breastful of milk, and a mangerful of hay;
Enough for Him, whom angels fall before,
The ox and ass and camel which adore.

Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him—give my heart.

In the Bleak Midwinter lyrics were written by Christina Rossetti and later set to music by Gustav Holst and Harold Darke. The song focuses on the contrast between the cold harsh world and the warmth of the Nativity scene. It famously concludes with the question What can I give Him poor as I am? and the answer Give my heart. By singing these lyrics believers reflect on the accessibility of the Savior and the simple profound truth that God desires our love above any material wealth. It is a contemplative and deeply moving carol that fosters a spirit of quiet personal devotion during the winter months.