An Epiphany Hymn

"Hostis Herodes Impie" (Impious Herod)

Herod, why do you fear?

Because the Christ has come so near?

He whom heavenly kingdoms grant,

your earthly kingdom could never want.

The sages from the east are gone

to where the star has newly shone

on by light to light they press

and by their gifts to God they confess

The Lamb of God is manifest

again in Jordan's waters, blessed

and He whom sin had never known

by washing has, our sins undone

Yet He that rules over everything

can change the waters as they spring

and gives at Cana this for a sign

the water reddens right into wine

Then glory Lord, to You, we pray

for Your epiphany today,

all glory through eternity

to Father, Son, and Spirit be

to Father, Son, and Spirit be

to Father, Son, and Spirit be

This hymn credited to Caelius Sedulius appeared around 450AD. The tune is an old Rouen church melody according to cyberhymnal.org, probably from the renaissance period. The translation is an updated version from 1906.

for more about this hymn, it's writer and a midi down load of the tune go to

http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/s/e/sedulius_c.htm

the painting is the " adoraqtion of the Magi" the middle panel from the interior of H. Bosch's Epiphany

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Epiphany_(Bosch)