Irmos: Herod seeketh to slay Him Who of old covered the tyrannical persecutor with the waves of the sea, and is now concealed in a manger; but we sing with the magi: Let us chant unto the Lord, for gloriously hath He been glorified!
Then both choirs together chant the irmos again.
O Lord my God, I chant the hymnody of Thy nativity and hymns of the forefeast to Thee Who by Thy divine nativity bestowest regeneration upon me and leadest me up to man’s primal nobility.
Perceiving Thee as on Thy throne above and in the manger below, O my Savior, those of heaven and those of earth marvelled at Thy might, for in manner past understanding Thou hast appeared as God and man, twofold in nature.
Bowing down the heavens, Thou hast come to earth, that Thou mightest fill all things with Thy glory; for Thou didst descend into the Virgin’s womb like rain upon the fleece, and from thence Thou now comest to be born, both God and man.
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.