Ballad of the Magi

by Edward Keyes

We are the Wise Men,
we have studied many books.
Our heads are stuffed with knowledge
but since we followed the star
we know how little we know.
Wisdom is born in Bethlehem.
  We go to worship Him.

We are three great kings,
great men in our own lands.
All our people do homage to us.
But since we followed the star
we know how small we are.
The King of Kings is in Bethlehem.
  We go to worship Him.

We are rich men,
we have all the money we want,
and fair women and fine houses.
But since we followed the star
we know how poor we are.
True wealth lies in Bethlehem.
  We go to worship Him.

We have been proud men,
we always thought well of ourselves
and we wanted others to think well of us.
But since we followed the star
our pride is a broken toy,
for the Child born in Bethlehem.
  We go to worship Him.

We are growing old,
we have not much longer to live
and we thought that death was the end of us.
But since we followed the star
we have begun to believe
that undying life is in Bethlehem.
  We go to worship Him.

We have searched for the true God
and have heard tell of many gods,
but none that we could adore.
But since we followed the star
we have come to the end of our search,
for the gods are God in Bethlehem.
  We go to worship Him.