My soul doth magnify the Lord

A great gap in English Christmas music is a Protestant version of Mary's Magnificat sung in English. Bach set the words to music in German but no Protestant has set the words to music in English--as far as I know.

Here is what Mary said:

Luke 1:46 (KJV) And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord,

47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy [is] his name.

50 And his mercy [is] on them that fear him from generation to generation.

51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.

52 He hath put down the mighty from [their] seats, and exalted them of low degree.

53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

54 He hath holpen his servant Israel, in remembrance of [his] mercy;

55 As he spake to our fathers, to Abraham, and to his seed for ever.

Here it is sung in German as written by the Lutheran Bach at the time of the Reformation, the greatest event in European history: