Irmos: Fall back in awe and fear, O heaven; and let the foundations of the earth be shaken! For, lo! He Who holdeth all things in the palm of His hand is wrapped in swaddling-bands and sojourneth as a stranger in a small manger. Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Adam who was bound hath been released, and freedom was given to all the faithful when Thou wast wrapped in swaddling-bands, O Savior, and laid in the manger of dumb beasts in the lowly cave. Wherefore, rejoicing, with faith we offer hymnody of the forefeast to Thee for the day of Thy nativity.
The falsehood of Persia hath come to an end, for when Christ, the King of all, was born, the kings of the East, observers of the stars, brought gifts: gold, myrrh and frankincense. Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
O the new wonders! O the goodness! O the ineffable patience! For, lo! He Who dwelleth in the highest is confined as an infant; of His own will God fleeth from Herod! Ye children, bless; ye priests, hymn; ye people, exalt Him supremely for all ages!
Translated by Isaac Lambertsen. Edition menaion.en.lambertsen.