We Three Kings of Orient Are
By John H. Hopkins
Lyrics
bearing gifts we traverse afar,
field and fountain, moor and mountain,
following yonder star.
O star of wonder, star of light,
star with royal beauty bright,
westward leading, still proceeding,
guide us to thy perfect light.
gold I bring to crown him again,
King forever, ceasing never,
over us all to reign.
incense owns a Deity nigh;
prayer and praising, voices raising,
worshiping God on high.
breathes a life of gathering gloom;
sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying,
sealed in the stone-cold tomb.
King and God and sacrifice:
Alleluia, Alleluia,
sounds through the earth and skies.
Bible Reference
Matthew 2:1–12
About This Hymn
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John Henry Hopkins, Jr. (1820–1891), born in Pittsburgh to pioneer parents from Dublin and Hamburg, was a multi-talented ecclesiologist, musician, artist, and hymn writer who became a major figure in 19th-century Episcopal hymnody.
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He was the son of the second Episcopal Bishop of Vermont and assisted in running the Vermont Episcopal Institute before going on to study theology, write extensively, and design church ornaments, furniture, and even tombs.
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Known for his deep devotion to parish life and love for children, he composed numerous hymns—including the famous “We Three Kings”—and left a lasting legacy in the Episcopal Church as a scholar, preacher, and creative force.
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Hymn Information
- Category: Hymn
- Author/Writer: John H. Hopkins (1857)
- Added: May 16, 2025
- Last Updated: August 20, 2025
- Views: 452
MIDI File
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