A tender shoot has started
up from a root of grace,
as ancient seers imparted
from Jesse's holy race;
It blooms without a blight,
blooms in the cold bleak winter
turning our darkness into light.

This shoot, Isaiah taught us,
from Jesse's root should spring;
the Vrigin Mary brought us
the branch of which we sing:
our God of endless might
gave her this child to save us,
thus turning darkness into light.