How humble You are! How powerful You are!
O Infant, Your judgment is powerful!
Your love is sweet! Who is able to stand against You?
Your Father [is] in heaven and Your mother on earth.
Who is able to speak about You?

After we have scorned we bow before You, the Hidden Power!
How bold You are, Babe, who bestows Himself upon all.
At everyone who meets You You smile. To meet
everyone who sees You You eagerly eait. It is as if Your
love hungers for human beings. You distinguish not Your parents
from strangers, not the one who bore You from maidservants, nor
the one who nursed You from harlots. Is this Your boldness or Your
love, all-merciful One?

What moves You to bestow Yourself upon each who has seen You--
upon the rich and upon the poor? With them You take shelter without
their invoking You. From where did it come to You so to hunger for human beings?

From Hymn 13 on the Nativity, Ephrem the Syrian

A wonder is Your mother: The Lord entered her and became a servant;
He entered able to speak and He became silent in her; He entered her thundering and
His voice grew silent; He entered Shepherd of all; a lamb he became in her; He emerged bleating. The womb of Your mother overthrew the orders: The Establisher of all entered a Rich One; He emerged poor. He entered her a Lofty One; He emerged humble. He entered her a Radiant One, and He put on a despised hue and emerged. He entered, a mighty warrior, and put on fear inside her womb. He entered, Nourisher of all, and He acquired hunger. He entered, the One who gives drink to all, and He acquired thirst. Stripped and laid bare, He emerged from [her womb], the One who clothes all.

From Hymn 11 on the Nativity, Ephrem the Syrian