#718: In a Lowly Manger Born

[lutheranhymns]

This is a translation from Japanese, and features the word "publicans," which apparently is the term for the tax collectors in the Roman Empire so it's actually relevant (Zacchaeus! etc.) but not used very often. I also found it interesting that it namedrops both Joseph and Mary, but in different contexts--the end describes Jesus as both human and divine, "son of Mary, son of God." But the beginning part mentions Jesus growing up "under Joseph's watchful eye," emphasizing that he was a humble laborer from a working-class family. Neat.