1. Ye sons of men, oh, hearken:
   Your heart and mind prepare;
   To hail th’ Almighty Savior,
   O sinners, be your care.
   He who of grace alone
   Our Life and Light was given,
   The promised Lord from heaven,
   Unto our world is shown.

2. Prepare the way before Him;
   Prepare for Him the best;
   Cast out whate’er offendeth
   This great, this heav’nly Guest.
   Make straight, make plain, the way:
   The lowly valleys raising,
   The heights of pride abasing,
   His path all even lay.

3. The humble heart and lowly
   God lifteth up on high;
   Beneath His feet in anguish
   The haughty soul shall lie.
   The heart, sincere and right,
   That heeds God’s invitation
   And makes true preparation,
   It is the Lord’s delight.

4. Prepare my heart, Lord Jesus,
   Turn not from me aside,
   And grant that I receive Thee
   This blessèd Advent-tide.
   From stall and manger low
   Come Thou to dwell within me;
   Loud praises will I sing Thee
   And forth Thy glory show.

Mit Ernst, o Menschenkinder
Vaneltin Thilo, Jr., 1659, alt.
Tr. Arthur T. Russell, 1851, alt.
Source: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 75