What Shall [I] Give?

What Child Is This?

1 What Child is this, who, laid to rest,
On Mary’s lap is sleeping — 

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet,
While shepherds watch are keeping?

This, this is Christ, the King,
Whom shepherds guard, and angels sing:

Haste, haste to bring Him laud,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

1 My Shepherd will supply my need;
Jehovah is His name.

In pastures fresh He makes me feed
Beside the living stream.

He brings my wand’ring spirit back
When I forsake His ways

And leads me for His mercy’s sake
In paths of truth and grace.

2 Why lies He in such mean estate,
Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians, fear, for sinners here
The silent Word is pleading.

Nails, spear, shall pierce Him through,
The cross be borne for me, for you;

Hail! Hail! the Word made flesh,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

2 When I walk through the shades of death,
Thy presence is my stay;

One word of Thy supporting breath
Drives all my fears away.

Thy hand, in sight of all my foes,
Doth still my table spread.

My cup with blessings overflows;
Thine oil anoints my head.

Nineteenth-century English hymn writer William Chatterton Dix is best known for his Christmas hymns. And none of those is better known than “What Child Is This?” Dix, who wrote many hymns, was neither a minister nor a scholar. But he had a finely honed gift for writing religious texts.

“What Child Is This?” invites us to imagine the Nativity as if for the first time, asking us to consider who the child sleeping on Mary’s lap really is. Then it joyfully affirms, “This, this is Christ, the King,” and invites all to bring Him laud, or praise. Verse 2 refers to “the Word,” a name for the premortal Savior (see John 1:1), who has just been born, or “made flesh.” This verse also foreshadows His future suffering on the cross “for me, for you.” Verse 3 entreats all humankind to accept and worship “the King of kings” and to rejoice in His birth.

Dix’s text was set to the tune of the 16th-century English melody “Greensleeves.” John Stainer, an accomplished composer, harmonized the tune for the hymn’s publication in 1867.

When Isaac Watts was a child, the hymns that were sung at worship services were based on the book of Psalms. Watts was dissatisfied with the psalm-based hymns of the time. He tried a new approach: using New Testament language to emphasize Christ as the central figure of the book of Psalms. He also modernized the scriptural messages to resonate with the people of his day. “My Shepherd Will Supply My Need” is one of Watts’s texts based on Psalm 23.

Watts’s text identifies “the Lord” from Psalm 23:1 as Jehovah — the Good Shepherd, who provides all we need. And “the still waters” from Psalm 23:2 become “the living stream,” alluding to the living water that the Savior provides. While the psalmist states that the Shepherd guides us “in the paths of righteousness” (Psalm 23:3), Watts evokes images of wandering, repentance, and the redemption made possible through Jesus Christ’s Atonement.

During his work on a collection of psalm-based texts, Watts suffered a prolonged illness. In gratitude for the sustaining help he received, he offered the completed hymnal to God. He wrote, “May that God who has favour’d me with Life and Capacity to finish this Work … after so many Years of tiresome Sickness and Confinement, accept this humble Offering from a thankfull Heart.”

1 What shall we give to the babe in the manger?
What shall we offer the child in the stall?
Incense and spices and gold we’ve a-plenty,
are these the gifts for the King of us all?

2 What shall we give to the boy in the temple?
What shall we offer the man by the sea?
Palms at His feet and hosannas uprising,
are these for Him who will carry the tree?

3 What shall we give to the lamb who was offered,
rising the third day and shedding His blood?
Tears for His mercy we’ll leave at the manger,
bathing the infant come down from above.

35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

40 And the King [Jesus Christ] shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

What Child Is This?

3 So bring Him incense, gold, and myrrh.
Come, peasant, king, to own Him.

The King of kings salvation brings;
Let loving hearts enthrone Him.

Raise, raise the song on high.
The virgin sings her lullaby.

Joy! Joy! for Christ is born,
The Babe, the Son of Mary!

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

3 The sure provisions of my God
Attend me all my days.

O may Thy house be mine abode
And all my work be praise!

There would I find a settled rest
While others go and come — 

No more a stranger nor a guest,
But like a child at home.

What Child Is This?

My Shepherd Will Supply My Need

What Shall We Give?