The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child

[Verse 1]
The hands that first held Mary's child
Were hard from working wood
From boards they sawed and nailed and filed
And splinters they withstood

[Verse 2]
This day they gripped no tool of steel
They drove no iron nail
But cradled from the head to heel
Our Lord, newborn and frail

[Verse 3]
When Joseph marveled at the size
Of that small breathing frame
And gazed upon those bright new eyes
And spoke the infant's name

[Verse 4]
The angel's voice he once had dreamed
Poured out from heaven's height
And like the host of starts that gleamed
Blessed earth with welcome light

[Chorus]
This Child shall be Emmanuel
Not God upon a throne
But God-with-us, Emmanuel
As close as blood and bone

[Verse 5]
The tools which Joseph laid aside
A mob would later lift
And use with anger, fear and pride
To crucify God's gift

[Verse 6]
Let us, O Lord, not only hold
The Child who's born today
But charged with faith, may we behold
To follow in His way

[Bridge]
The tiny form in Joseph's palms
Confirmed what he had heard
And from his heart rose hymns and psalms
For heaven's human Word

[Chorus]
This Child shall be Emmanuel
Not God upon a throne
But God-with-us, Emmanuel
As close as blood and bone
This Child shall be Emmanuel
Not God upon a throne
But God-with-us, Emmanuel

[Post-Chorus]
As close as blood and bone

[Outro]
As close as blood and bone