The kings of the east are riding Tonight to Bethlehem; The sunset glows dividing, The kings of the east are riding, A star their journey guiding, Gleaming with gold and gem. The kings of the east are riding Tonight to Bethlehem. To a strange sweet song of Zion The starry host troops forth: The golden glaived Orion To a strange sweet song of Zion, The Archer and the Lion, The watchers of the north: To a strange sweet song of Zion The starry host troops forth. There beams above a manger The child face of a star; Amid the stars a stranger, It beams above a manger, What means this ether ranger To pause where poor folk are? There beams above a manger The child face of a star.