Angel hosts in bright array—
Stars their night-watch keeping—
Earthward wend their silent way,
While the world lies sleeping.
Through the wintry clouds they glide,
On through portal hoary,
Where, the ox and ass beside,
Lies the Babe of Glory.

Refrain

Ring the bells, and sound the horn!
Shout with exultation!
Christ the Lord today is born
For the world’s salvation!

All unseen by mortal eye,
Reverent and lowly;
Prostrate there, they laud on high
Him, the Infant holy.
From their lips celestial rise
Sounds, with joy o’erflowing,
Strains upborne beyond the skies,
Hymns with rapture glowing.

Refrain

Raphäel, archangel bright!
On thine errand wending,
Forth again into the night
Mount, the clouds ascending!
Take of that, thy glittering train,
Hosts of light, dear angel!
Then descend where Bethlehem’s plain
Waits thy longed evangel!

Refrain

Hark the news the angel tells:
“Lo! An infant Stranger,
God’s dear Son among you dwells,
Born in Bethlehem’s manger!”
Bursts a chorus from the sky,
Loud from Heaven’s portal:
“Glory be to God on high,
Peace, goodwill to mortal!”

Refrain

Angel spirits earthward led,
With a hope endearing,
First to worship, first to spread
News of Christ’s appearing!
Trace we out your footfalls light,
Praise we Christ in glory,
Then waft on the tidings bright
Of the Gospel’s story!

Refrain

Angels from the realms of glory,
Wing your flight o’er all the earth;
Ye who sang creation’s story
Now proclaim Messiah’s birth.

Refrain

Come and worship, come and worship,
Worship Christ, the newborn King.

Shepherds, in the field abiding,
Watching o’er your flocks by night,
God with us is now residing;
Yonder shines the infant light:

Refrain

Sages, leave your contemplations,
Brighter visions beam afar;
Seek the great Desire of nations;
Ye have seen His natal star.

Refrain

Saints, before the altar bending,
Watching long in hope and fear;
Suddenly the Lord, descending,
In His temple shall appear.

Refrain

Sinners, wrung with true repentance,
Doomed for guilt to endless pains,
Justice now revokes the sentence,
Mercy calls you; break your chains.

Refrain

Though an Infant now we view Him,
He shall fill His Father’s throne,
Gather all the nations to Him;
Every knee shall then bow down:

Refrain

All creation, join in praising
God, the Father, Spirit, Son,
Evermore your voices raising
To th’eternal Three in One.

Refrain

Lord of Heaven, we adore Thee,
God the Father, God the Son,
God the Spirit, One in glory,
On the same eternal throne.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lord of Heaven, Three in One.

Angels we have heard on high
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply
Echoing their joyous strains.

Refrain

Gloria, in excelsis Deo!
Gloria, in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
What the gladsome tidings be
Which inspire your heavenly song?

Refrain

Come to Bethlehem and see
Christ Whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee,
Christ the Lord, the newborn King.

Refrain

See Him in a manger laid,
Whom the choirs of angels praise;
Mary, Joseph, lend your aid,
While our hearts in love we raise.

Refrain

Shepherds in the field abiding,
Tell us when the seraph bright
Greeted you with wondrous tiding,
What you saw and heard that night.

Refrain

We beheld—it is no fable—
God incarnate, King of bliss,
Swathed and cradled in a stable,
And the angel strain was this:

Refrain

Choristers on high were singing
Jesus and His virgin birth,
Heavenly bells the while a-ringing
“Peace, good will to men on earth.”

Refrain

Bright angel hosts are heard on high
All sweetly singing o’er the plains;
While mountains echo in reply
The burden of their joyous strains.

Say, shepherds, why this jubilee,
What doth your rapturous mirth prolong?
Say, say what may the tidings be
Which still inspire that heav’nly song?

Come, come to Bethlehem, come and see
The Child whose birth the angels sing;
Come, come, adore on bended knee
The Infant Christ, the newborn King!

See, there within a manger laid
Jesus, the Lord of Heav’n and earth!
See, saints and angels lend their aid
To celebrate the Savior’s birth!

Calm on the listening ear of night
Come heaven’s melodious strains,
Where wild Judea stretches forth
Her silver mantled plains.
Celestial choirs from courts above
Shed sacred glories there,
And angels, with their sparkling lyres,
Make music on the air.

The answering hills of Palestine
Send back the glad reply;
And greet, from all their holy heights,
The Day-Spring from on high.
O’er the blue depths of Galilee
There comes a holier calm,
And Sharon waves, in solemn praise,
Her silent groves of palm.

“Glory to God!” the lofty strain
The realm of ether fills;
How sweeps the song of solemn joy
O’er Judah’s sacred hills!
“Glory to God!” the sounding skies
Loud with their anthems ring,
“Peace to the earth; good will to men,
From heaven’s eternal King!”

Light on thy hills, Jerusalem!
The Savior now is born,
And bright on Bethlehem’s joyous plains
Breaks the first Christmas morn.
And brightly on Moriah’s brow
Crowned with her temple spires,
Which first proclaim the newborn light,
Clothed with its orient fires.

This day shall Christian tongues be mute,
And Christian hearts be cold?
Oh, catch the anthem that from Heaven
O’er Judah’s mountains rolled.
When burst upon that listening night
The high and solemn lay:
“Glory to God, on earth be peace,”
Salvation comes today!

Do you know the song that the angels sang
On that night in the long ago,
When the heavens above with their music rang
Till it echoed in the earth below?

Refrain

All glory in the highest,
Peace on earth, goodwill to men,
Glory in the highest,
Peace, goodwill to men;
Glory in the highest,
Glory in the highest,
Peace on earth, goodwill to men.

Do you know the song that the shepherds heard
As they watched o’er their flocks by night,
When the skies bent down, and their hearts were stirred
By the voices of the angels bright?

Refrain

Do you know the story that the wise men learned
As they journeyed from the east afar,
O’er a pathway plain, for there nightly burned
In their sight a glorious guiding star?

Refrain

From every spire on Christmas Eve, the Christmas bells ring clearly out
Their message of goodwill and peace, with many a call and silver shout.
For faithful hearts, the angels’ song still echoes in the frosty air,
And by the altar low they bow, in adoration and in prayer.

A thousand blessed memories throng, the stars are holy signs to them,
And from the eyes of every child looks forth the Babe of Bethlehem;
But there are others, not like these, whose brows are sad, whose hopes are crossed,
To whom the season brings no cheer, and life’s most gracious charm is lost.

To whom that story, old and sweet, is but a fable at the best,
The Christmas music mocks their ears, and life has naught of joy or rest.
Oh! for angel’s voice to pierce the clouds of grief that over them rise,
The mists of doubt and unbelief that veil the blue of Christmas skies.

That they, at last, may see the Light which shines from Bethlehem, and unfold
For Christ the treasures of their hearts, richer than spicery or gold.
Hope of the ages, draw Thou near, till all the earth shall own Thy sway,
And when Thou reignest in every heart it will, indeed, be Christmas Day.

Glorious, beauteous, golden-bright,
Shedding softest, purest light,
Shone the stars that Christmas night,
When the Jewish shepherds kept
Watch beside their flocks that slept.

But the stars’ sweet golden gleam
Faded quickly as a dream
’Mid the wondrous glory-stream
That illumined all the earth,
When Christ’s angels sang His birth.

Soft and pure and holy glory,
Kings and seers and prophets hoary,
Shed throughout the sacred story:
While the priests, like shepherds true,
Watched beside God’s chosen few.

But that light no more availéd,
And its splendor staighway paléd
In His light Whom angels hailéd;
Even as the stars of old,
’Mid the brightness lost their gold.

Now no more on Christmas night,
Is the sky with angels bright,
But for ever shines the Light;
Even He Whose birth they told
To the shepherds by the fold.

Since that Light then darkens never,
Let us all, with glad endeavor,
Sing the song that echoes ever:
Glory in the highest Heaven!
Peace on earth to us forgiven.

Hark from on high those blissful strains!
Whence can such sweetness be?
Have angels waked their golden harps
With Heav’ns own minstrelsy?
With Heav’ns own minstrelsy?

Or do we hear the cherub voice
Of infant bands who raise,
Soaring from earth celestial notes
In their Creator’s praise?
In their Creator’s praise?

Thus spake the shepherds—yet with dread,
So strange the sounds they heard,
While o’er their slumb’ring flocks they kept
Their wonted nightly guard,
Their wonted nightly guard.

And soon they saw a dazzling light
Beam through the starry way,
And shining seraphs clust’ring where
The infant Jesus lay,
The infant Jesus lay.

They came a Savior’s birth to tell,
And tunes of rapture sing;
Hence the glad notes that filled the air—
Each swept his loudest string,
Each swept his loudest string.

But now in accents soft and kind
The chieftain angel said,
“Heav’ns tidings of great joy we bear—
Shepherds, be not afraid,
Shepherds, be not afraid.”

Hark! The herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”

Refrain

Hark! the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”

Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel.

Refrain

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.

Refrain

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring Seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.

Refrain

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place:
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man:
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.

Refrain

Hark, how all the welkin rings,
“Glory to the King of kings;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
Universal nature say,
“Christ the Lord is born to-day!”

Christ, by highest Heaven ador’d,
Christ, the everlasting Lord:
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a Virgin’s womb!

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,
Hail the incarnate deity!
Pleased as man with men to appear,
Jesus! Our Immanuel here!

Hail, the heavenly Prince of Peace!
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.

Mild He lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die;
Born to raise the sons of earth;
Born to give them second birth.

Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Now display thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to thine.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface;
Stamp Thy image in its place.
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in thy love.

Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the life, the inner Man:
O! to all thyself impart,
Form?d in each believing heart.

Hark! what mean those holy voices,
Sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo! the angelic host rejoices
Heavenly hallelujahs rise.

Listen to the wondrous story,
Which they chant in hymns of joy;
“Glory in the highest, glory;
Glory be to God most high!

“Peace on earth, good will from Heaven,
Reaching far as man is found;
Souls redeemed, and sins forgiven;
Loud our golden harps shall sound.

“Christ is born, the great Anointed;
Heaven and earth His praises sing:
O receive whom God appointed,
For your Prophet, Priest and King.

“Hasten, mortals to adore Him;
Learn His Name and taste His joy;
Till in heaven you sing before Him,
Glory be to God most high!”

Let us learn the wondrous story
Of our great Redeemer’s birth;
Spread the brightness of His glory
Till it cover all the earth.

Hark! what sounds are sweetly stealing
Soft through Bethlehem’s midnight air?
Louder yet, and louder pealing,
Angel accents sure are there.

Refrain

Glory, glory, peace and mercy,
Peace on earth, good will to men.

See! a light from Heaven is streaming,
Night and darkness quit the plain;
See! an angel brightly beaming,
Followed by a radiant train.

Refrain

Fear not, shepherds! glad my story,
Tidings of the greatest joy:
Christ is born, the Lord of Glory!
I proclaim a Savior nigh.

Refrain

Thus the angel, then ascending,
Seeks again the realms of light;
Now the chorus faintly ending,
All is silence, all is night.

Refrain

Hearken, all! what holy singing
Now is sounding from the sky!
’Tis a hymn with grandeur ringing,
Sung by voices clear and high.

Refrain

Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Gloria in excelsis Deo.

On the plain, the simple shepherds
Watched their flocks the long night through;
From on high they heard the voices,
Sounding through the heavenly blue.

Refrain

See, within the manger lowly,
Wide the Christ Child spreads His arms.
Raise to Him your joyful voices,
Sing we all Noel, Noel.

Refrain

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

Till ringing, singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound the carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn, the households born
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

In the lonely midnight on the wintry hill,
Shepherds heard the angels singing, “Peace, good will.”
Listen, O ye weary, to the angels’ song,
Unto to you the tidings of great joy belong.

Though in David’s city angels sing no more,
Love makes angel music on earth’s darkest shore;
Though no heavenly glory meet your wondering eyes,
Love can make your dwelling bright as paradise.

Though the Child of Mary, sent from heaven on high,
In His manger cradle may no longer lie,
Love is King forever, though the proud world scorn;
If ye truly seek Him, Christ your King is born.

Let angels and archangels sing
The wonderful Immanuel’s Name,
Adore with us our new-born King,
And still the joyful news proclaim;
All earth and Heav’n be ever joined
To praise the Savior of mankind.

The everlasting God comes down
To sojourn with the sons of men;
Without His majesty or crown,
The great Invisible is seen;
Of all His dazzling glories shorn
The everlasting God is born!

Angels, behold that Infant’s face,
With rapturous awe the Godhead own;
’Tis all your heav’n on Him to gaze,
And cast your crowns before His throne;
Though now He on His footstool lies,
Ye know He built both earth and skies.

By Him into existence brought,
Ye sang the all-creating Word;
Ye heard Him call our world from naught;
Again, in honor of your Lord,
Ye morning-stars your hymns employ,
And shout, ye sons of God, for joy.

Long ago a shining throng,
Thrilled the midnight air with song;
For the Savior promised long,
Lay in Bethl’em’s stall.
Over Judah’s silent plain,
Sweetly rang the joyous strain;
Of His birth, who yet shall reign,
As King of all.

Refrain

Praise Him, angels bright,
Praise Him, stars of light,
Tell His wondrous might,
Who today was born.
Shout, O shout His Name,
Gladly now proclaim,
How to save He came,
This happy morn.

Mighty God and Prince of Peace,
Never shall His glory cease;
But forever more increase,
Till He rules alone.
All the earth shall own His sway,
Crowns and kingdoms pass away;
Kings to him shall tribute pay,
Upon the throne.

Refrain

Sing, ye heav’nly hosts on high,
Sons of men, with joy reply,
Sound His praise through earth and sky,
In His love rejoice.
Let the swelling chorus ring,
Hail Him Lord and crown Him King;
Of His pow’r forever sing,
With heart and voice.

Refrain

Mortals, awake, with angels join,
And chant the solemn lay,
Joy, love, and gratitude combine,
To hail the auspicious day,
To hail the auspicious day.

In Heav’n the rapturous song began,
And sweet seraphic fire
Through all the shining legions ran,
And strung and tuned the lyre,
And strung and tuned the lyre.

Swift through the vast expanse it flew,
And loud the echo rolled,
The theme, the song, the joy, was new—
’Twas more than Heav’n could hold,
’Twas more than Heav’n could hold.

Down through the portals of the sky
The impetuous torrent ran;
And angels flew, with eager joy,
To bear the news to man,
To bear the news to man.

Hark! the cherubic armies shout,
And glory leads the song:
Good will and peace are heard throughout
The harmonious heav’nly throng,
The harmonious heav’nly throng.

With joy the chorus we repeat,
“Glory to God on high!”
Good will and peace are now complete,
Jesus was born to die,
Jesus was born to die.

Hail, Prince of Life, forever hail!
Redeemer, Brother, Friend!
Though earth, and time, and life shall fail
Thy praise shall never end,
Thy praise shall never end.

The evergreen branches are waving around us,
And sweetly our carols in harmony ring,
While here we are gathered to welcome with rapture
The birth of our Savior, Redeemer, and King.

Refrain

Hark! the music of the angels
Floating onward still we hear;
Blessèd music, sweetest chorus
Ever sung to mortal ear.

How graciously favored the shepherds of Judah,
Who guarded their flocks on that wonderful morn,
When legions descended, proclaiming the tidings
That Jesus, the promised Redeemer, was born.

Refrain

How humble His birthplace, how lowly His cradle,
O tender compassion, O infinite love!
The Son of the Highest our nature assuming
That we might inherit the mansions above.

Refrain

The sweet chiming bells with our carols are blending,
A glad, merry Christmas they joyfully ring.
While here we are gathered to welcome with rapture
The birth of our Savior, Redeemer, and King.

Refrain

Music I love—­but ne’er a strain
Could kindle raptures so divine,
So grief assuage, so conquer pain,
And rouse this pensive heart of mine;
As that we hear on Christmas morn,
Upon the wintry breezes borne.

Though darkness still her empire keep,
And hours must pass, ere morning break;
From troubled dreams, or slumbers deep,
That music kindly bids us wake:
It calls us, with an angel’s voice,
To wake, and worship, and rejoice.

To greet with joy the glorious morn,
Which angels welcomed long ago,
When our redeeming Lord was born,
To bring the light of Heaven below;
The powers of darkness to dispel,
And rescue Earth from death and hell.

While listening to that sacred strain,
My raptured spirit soars on high;
I seem to hear those songs again
Resounding through the open sky,
That kindled such divine delight,
In those who watched their flocks by night.

With them, I celebrate His birth;
Glory to God, in highest Heaven,
Good will to men, and peace on Earth,
To us a Savior King is given;
Our God is come to claim His own,
And Satan’s power is overthrown!

A sinless God, for sinful men,
Descends to suffer and to bleed;
Hell must renounce its empire then;
The price is paid, the world is freed,
And Satan’s self must now confess,
That Christ has earned a right to bless.

Now holy peace may smile from Heaven,
And heavenly truth from earth shall spring:
The captive’s galling bonds are riven,
For our Redeemer is our King;
And He that gave His blood for men
Will lead us home to God again.

Peaceful the wondrous night,
Peaceful and holy,
Under the silv’ry light,
Gleaming afar.
Faithfully watching there,
Shepherds so lowly,
Over the hills so fair,
Saw glory’s star.

Refrain

Hail to the starry night,
Sparkling with glory;
Angels on wings of light,
Thronging the sky.
Hail to that starry night!
Wondrous its story:
Jesus the Prince of Light,
Came from above.

Come with that shepherd band,
Come to the manger;
Join in the chorus grand,
Glory to God!
Worship the holy Child,
Wonderful Stranger,
Give to the Undefiled,
Glory and laud.

Refrain

Sweet favor, thus to bow,
Love’s treasure bringing,
Gratefully yielding now,
Life’s joyful praise.
Hear from the heav’nly height,
Glad echoes ringing,
Blessing and pow’r and might,
Through endless days.

Refrain

Shades of silent night dividing,
Bursts the glory from above;
Down the stream of brightness gliding,
Comes the messenger of love;
To the shepherds lowly, telling
Of the Christ expected long,
While the sudden anthem, swelling
Fills the flowing heav’n with song.

Heav’n will guard their flocks from danger
Scattered o’er the moist green sward,
While the swains to Bethlehem’s manger,
Hie to greet their newborn Lord.
Awe and love maternal blending,
Fill the blessèd virgin’s heart;
While with reverent gesture bending,
Kneel these humble men apart.

Not alone do men unlearnèd
Bow the holy Child before:
Sages who for truth long yearnèd
Heav’ns true Sun at length adore.
So our songs proclaim a story
Kings of old have longed to know;
Tell of Christ, the Prince of Glory,
Born this night, for high and low.

’Twas in the moon of wintertime,
When all the birds had fled,
That mighty Gitchi Manitou
Sent angel choirs instead;
Before their light the stars grew dim,
And wondering hunters heard the hymn:

Refrain

Jesus your King is born,
Jesus is born,
In excelsis gloria.

Within a lodge of broken bark
The tender babe was found,
A ragged robe of rabbit skin
Enwrapped His beauty round;
But as the hunter braves drew nigh,
The angel song rang loud and high:

Refrain

The earliest moon of wintertime
Is not so round and fair
As was the ring of glory on
The helpless Infant there.
The chiefs from far before Him knelt
With gifts of fox and beaver pelt.

Refrain

O children of the forest free,
O seed of Manitou,
The holy Child of earth and Heav’n
Is born today for you.
Come kneel before the radiant Boy,
Who brings you beauty, peace and joy.

Refrain

All glory to God, and peace upon earth,
Be published abroad at Jesus’ birth;
The forfeited favor of Heaven we find
Restored in the Savior and Friend of mankind.

Then let us behold Messias the Lord,
By prophets foretold, by angels adored;
Our God’s incarnation with angels proclaim,
And publish salvation in Jesus’ Name.

Our newly born King by faith we have seen
And joyfully sing His goodness to men,
That all men may wonder at what we impart,
And thankfully ponder His love in their heart.

What moved the Most High so greatly to stoop,
He comes from the sky our souls to lift up;
That sinners forgiven, might sinless return
To God and to Heaven; their Maker is born.

Immanuel’s love let sinners confess,
Who comes from above, to bring us His peace;
Let every believer His mercy adore,
And praise Him forever, when time is no more.

All glory to God in the sky,
And peace upon earth be restored!
O Jesus, exalted on high,
Appear our omnipotent Lord:
Who meanly in Bethlehem born,
Didst stoop to redeem a lost race,
Once more to Thy creature return,
And reign in Thy kingdom of grace.

When Thou in our flesh didst appear,
All nature acknowledged Thy birth;
Arose the acceptable year,
And Heaven was opened on earth.
Receiving its Lord from above,
The world was united to bless
The Giver of concord and love,
The Prince and the Author of peace.

O wouldst Thou again be made known,
Again in Thy Spirit descend,
And set up in each of Thine own
A kingdom that never shall end!
Thou only art able to bless,
And make the glad nations obey,
And bid the dire enmity cease,
And bow the whole world to Thy sway.

Come then to Thy servants again,
Who long Thy appearing to know,
Thy quiet and peaceable reign,
In mercy establish below:
All sorrow before Thee shall fly,
And anger and hatred be o’er,
And envy and malice shall die,
And discord afflict us no more.

No horrid alarm of war
Shall break our eternal repose;
No sound of the trumpet is there,
Where Jesus’ Spirit o’erflows:
Appeased by the charms of Thy grace
We all shall in amity join,
And kindly each other embrace,
And love with a passion like Thine.

All in the silent night,
Numberless angels bright
Came on their wings of light
Thronging the deep blue sky;
Beautiful songs they sang,
Wonderful echoes rang;
Glory to Christ our King,
Glory to God on high.

Refrain

Glory, glory to God!
Glory, glory to God,
Glory, all glory to God on high!
Let every listening heart reply;
Glory, glory to God!
Glory, glory to God,
Far let the joyful tidings fly;
All glory to God on high!

Join in the song so sweet,
Now with the shepherds meet,
Haste to the Savior’s feet,
Worship the Child divine;
Come with the men of old,
Nor let the heart withhold
Aught of its purest gold;
All to the King resign.

Refrain

Broken the shades of night;
Hail to the Dayspring bright!
Spreading the blessèd light,
Tell of a Savior born,
Till all mankind shall see
Mercy, so great and free,
Till on this earth shall be
Dawn of eternal morn.

Refrain

Angel of peace, thou hast wandered too long;
Spread thy white wings to the sunshine of love!
Come while our voices are blended in song,
Fly to our ark like the storm-beaten dove—
Fly to our ark on the wings of the dove;
Speed o’er the far-sounding billows of song,
Crowned with the olive leaf garland of love;
Angel of peace, thou hast waited too long!

Brothers we meet on this altar of thine,
Mingling the gifts we have gathered for thee;
Sweet with the odors of myrtle and pine,
Breeze of the prairie and breath of the sea—
Meadow and mountain and forest and sea;
Sweet is the fragrance of myrtle and pine,
Sweeter the incense we offer to thee,
Brothers once more round this altar of thine!

Angels of Bethlehem, answer the strain!
Hark! a new birth-song is filling the sky!
Loud as the storm wind that tumbles the main,
Bid the full breath of the organ reply—
Loud let the tempest of voices reply;
Roll its long surge like the earth-shaking main!
Swell the vast song till it mounts to the sky!
Angels of Bethlehem, echo the strain!

Angels chant the heav’nly song,
“Peace on earth, good-will”;
Hear the echo loud and long
On the midnight still;
“Glory, glory,” hear them say—
Christ the Lord is born today,
“Glory be to God in the highest, glory!
Peace on earth, good-will to men.”

Refrain

Unto us is born a Savior,
Unto us is born a King;
“Peace on earth,” O chant the chorus,
Let the world with gladness sing.

Unto us is born a King,
Christ the Prince of peace;
Other kingdoms wane and fall,
His shall never cease;
For He rules in righteousness,
Rules in love our lives to bless,
His shall be the pow’r that shall fill creation,
Praise Him, for He reigns for aye.

Refrain

Lift a song of praise today,
At this holy time,
When to Bethl’em far away
Came the Guest divine;
When His star in matchless light
Gemm’d the sky that wondrous night,
“Glory in the highest,” oh, bow before Him,
Christ the Babe of Bethlehem.

Refrain

Rolling downward, through the midnight,
Comes a glorious burst of heav’nly song;
’Tis a chorus full of sweetness—
And the singers are an angel throng.

Refrain

“Glory! glory in the highest!
On the earth goodwill and peace to men!”
Down the ages send the echo;
Let the glad earth shout again!

Wondering shepherds see the glory,
Hear the word the shining ones declare;
At the manger fall in worship,
While the music fills the quivering air.

Refrain

Christ the Savior, God’s Anointed,
Comes to earth our fearful debt to pay—
Man of sorrows, and rejected,
Lamb of God, that takes our sin away.

Refrain

As the shepherds watched at midnight
On the hills so far away,
Suddenly a light shone ’round them,
Turning midnight into day.
Then each heart was filled with wonder,
For they could not understand
Why the angel host that gathered
Brought to them such music grand.

Refrain

Angels, sing your sweet refrain—
Glory in the highest, glory!
Tell the waiting earth your story
Of the Christ Who came to reign.
Sing—sing that sweet song again,
Earth and sky repeat the story—
Glory in the highest, glory!
On earth peace, good will to men.

All the earth was clothed with beauty
When there came that angel throng,
Every heart was filled with gladness
As they listened to the song;
Never had they heard such music,
Or beheld such wondrous light,
Filling all the earth with glory,
As the angel brought that night.

Refrain

Though we could not hear the angels
Singing forth their glad refrain;
We can celebrate His birthday
As it comes to us again.
We can, like the shepherds, worship,
Lay our lives at Jesus’ feet;
With our hearts we can adore Him
And the angels’ song repeat.

Refrain

Above all the roar of the cities,
And over the hills and the dells,
With a message of peace to the nations,
Ring the beautiful Bethlehem bells,
Bringing joy to the souls that are sighing
In hovels where poverty dwells—
There is life, there is life for the dying
In the beautiful Bethlehem bells.

Refrain

Beautiful Bethlehem bells;
Beautiful bells, beautiful bells,
Beautiful Bethlehem bells.

Far off in a land that is lovely,
For the tender, sweet story it tells,
In the light of a glorious morning,
Rang the beautiful Bethlehem bells;
And still in the hearts of creation
An anthem exultingly swells
At that memory sweet of the ringing
Of the beautiful Bethlehem bells.

Refrain

They rang o’er the hills and the valleys,
They summoned the glad world that day,
From the regions of night to the manger,
Where the beautiful Child Jesus lay;
And forever and ever and ever
A wonderful melody dwells
In the tender, sweet ringing and singing
Of the beautiful Bethlehem bells.

Refrain

Blessèd night, when first that plain
Echoed with the joyful strain,
“Peace has come to earth again.”
Alleluia!

Blessèd hills, that heard the song,
Of the glorious angel throng
Swelling all your slopes along.
Alleluia!

Happy shepherds, on whose ear
Fell the tidings glad and clear,
“God to man is drawing near.”
Alleluia!

Thus revealed to shepherds’ eyes
Hidden from the great and wise,
Entering earth in lowly guise:
Alleluia!

We adore Thee as our King,
And to Thee our song we sing,
Our best offering to Thee bring,
Alleluia!

Blessèd Babe of Bethlehem,
Owner of earth’s diadem,
Claim and wear the radiant gem
Alleluia!

Christians, listen, while we sing,
(Dark, before the dawning)
As it was commanded them,
On this Christmas morning.

In a manger of the stall,
(Dark, before the dawning)
There they found the Lord of all,
On this Christmas morning.

There they found the mother mild,
(Dark, before the dawning)
Gazing on her newborn Child,
On this Christmas morning.

Christian, art thou far from ill?
(Dark, before the dawning)
He will make thee happier still,
On this Christmas morning.

Is an hour of sorrow near?
(Dark, before the dawning)
He will wipe away the tear
On this Christmas morning.

Blessings rest on all within!
(Dark, before the dawning)
Newer life, and hopes begin
On this Christmas morning.

Praise we then our Savior King;
(Dark, before the dawning)
As the angels once did sing
On this Christmas morning:

“Glory be to God on high,”
(Dark, before the dawning)
“Peace on earth and charity”
On this Christmas morning.

Hear what glorious song of angels
Is now ringing through the air;
Never valley, never mountain
Heard an anthem half so fair.

Refrain

Hallelujah, hallelujah
Is the jubilant refrain;
God is sending us a Savior,
Peace on earth, good will to man.

Messengers of God’s free mercy
Are now seen by human eye;
Shepherds hear the wondrous message:
“Glory be to God on high.”

Refrain

Let us also sing the praises
Of our God so full of love,
Who on Christmas sent a Savior,
Sent a Savior from above.

Refrain

Ding dong! Merrily on high, in Heav’n the bells are ringing,
Ding dong! Verily the sky is riv’n with angel singing.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!

E’en so here below, below, let steeple bells be swungen,
And io, io, io, by priest and people sungen.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!

Pray ye dutifully, prime your matin chime, ye ringers;
May ye beautifully rime your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, hosannah in the highest!

Hail to the morn when Christ is born!
Hosanna in the highest!
Angels on high sing thro’ the sky!
Hosanna in the highest!
Shepherds adore the Lamb today:
Kings from the east are on their way;

Refrain

Sing then all in house and hall:
Hosanna!
Christ is born on Christmas morn,
Hosanna in the highest!

Cedar and pine now cheerily twine:
Hosanna in the highest!
Crown every scene with evergreen:
Hosanna in the highest!
Now is the reign of darkness o’er:
Jesu is King for evermore!

Refrain

Boughs of the holly this day adorn:
Hosanna in the highest!
Sharp are the leaves as crowns of thorn:
Hosanna in the highest!
See, in the berries all blood-red,
Blood that, for us, this Babe shall shed:

Refrain

Laurel and bay bring forth today:
Hosanna in the highest!
Matchless His might in deadly fight:
Hosanna in the highest!
Hail to the Child Immanuel!
Conqueror is He of death and hell!

Refrain

Far, far away on Judea’s plains,
Shepherds of old heard the joyous strains:

Refrain

Glory to God, glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest;
Peace on earth, good will to men;
Peace on earth, good will to men.

Sweet are these strains of redeeming love,
Message of mercy from heaven above:

Refrain

Lord, with the angels we too would rejoice;
Help us to sing with the heart and voice:

Refrain

Hasten the time when, from every clime,
Men shall unite in the strains sublime:

Refrain

Beautiful song of Christmas!
Sung in the long ago,
Bringing the joy of Heaven,
Down to the earth below.
Story of deepest meaning,
Burst forth in music sweet,
While from afar the wise men
Gathered at Jesus’ feet.

Refrain

Blend your voice in the song so sweet,
Bring your gifts to the Savior’s feet.
Let each heart with His praises ring
Pay your homage to Jesus, our Prince and King!

Beautiful song of Christmas,
Message of peace, good will,
Sung first by angel chorus,
Sweetly it echoes still.
Prophets of Christ had spoken,
Hope long deferred grew dim,
Till from the glowing heavens,
Angels now told of Him.

Refrain

Beautiful song of Christmas—
Rings in each heart today,
Telling of Christ, the Savior,
Driving the gloom away.
Age, with her silver tresses,
Youth, with her smile and song,
Join in the theme of ages,
With the glad angel throng.

Refrain

Glory be to Him Who loved us,
Washed us from each sinful stain;
Glory be to Him Who made us
Priests and kings with Him to reign;
Glory, worship, laud and blessing
To the Lamb Who once was slain.

“Glory, worship, laud and blessing,”
Thus the choir triumphant sings;
“Honor, riches, pow’r, dominion,”
Thus its praise creation brings;
Thou art worthy, Thou art worthy,
Lord of Lords, and King of kings.

Glory to the King of angels,
Glory to the Church’s King,
Glory to the King of nations,
Heav’n and earth His praises sing:
Glory ever and for ever
To the King of Glory bring.

Glory be to Thee, O Father,
Glory be to Thee, O Son,
Glory be to Thee, O Spirit,
Glory be to God alone,
As it was, is now, and shall be
While the endless ages run.

We are never, never weary of the grand old song;
Glory to God, hallelujah!
We can sing it loud as ever, with our faith more strong;
Glory to God, hallelujah!

Refrain

O, the children of the Lord have a right to shout and sing,
For the way is growing bright, and our souls are on the wing;
We are going by and by to the palace of a King!
Glory to God, hallelujah!

We are lost amid the rapture of redeeming love
Glory to God, hallelujah!
We are rising on its pinions to the hills above:
Glory to God, hallelujah!

Refrain

We are going to a palace that is built of gold;
Glory to God, hallelujah!
Where the King in all His splendor we shall soon behold
Glory to God, hallelujah!

Refrain

There we’ll shout redeeming mercy in a glad, new song;
Glory to God, hallelujah!
There we’ll sing the praise of Jesus with the blood washed throng;
Glory to God, hallelujah!

Refrain

Glory to God in the highest!
Glory to God! Glory to God!
Glory to God in the highest!
Shall be our song today;
Another year’s rich mercies prove
His ceaseless care and boundless love;
So let our loudest voices raise
Our glad and grateful song of praise.

Refrain

Glory to God in the highest!
Glory to God in the highest!
Glory, glory, glory, glory,
Glory be to God on high!
Glory, glory, glory, glory,
Glory be to God on high!

Glory to God in the highest!
Glory to God! Glory to God!
Glory to God in the highest!
Shall be our song today;
O, may we, an unbroken band,
Around the throne of Jesus stand,
And there with angels and the throng
Of His redeemed ones, join the song.

Refrain

The happy Christmas comes once more,
The heavenly Guest is at the door,
The blessèd words the shepherds thrill,
The joyous tidings, “Peace, good will.”

This world, though wide and far outspread,
Could scarcely find for You a bed.
Your cradle was a manger stall,
No pearl nor silk nor kingly hall.

O let us go with quiet mind,
The gentle Babe with shepherds find,
To gaze on Him Who gladdens them,
The loveliest flower of Jesse’s stem.

The lowly Savior meekly lies,
Laid off the splendor of the skies;
No crown bedecks His forehead fair,
No pearl, nor gem, nor silk is there.

O wake, our hearts, in gladness sing,
And keep our Christmas with our King,
Till living song, from loving souls,
Like sound of mighty water rolls.

O holy Child, Thy manger gleams
Till earth and heaven glow with its beams,
Till midnight noon’s broad light hath won,
And Jacob’s star outshines the sun.

Thou patriarchs’ joy, Thou prophets’ song,
Thou heavenly Dayspring, looked for long,
Thou Son of Man, incarnate Word,
Great David’s Son, great David’s Lord.

Come, Jesus, glorious heavenly Guest,
Keep Thine own Christmas in our breast,
Then David’s harp strings, hushed so long,
Shall swell our jubilee of song.

Hark, the sounds melodious stealing
Thro’ the quiet midnight air;
Sweet, seraphic music pealing
Over all the landscape fair.
Angel hosts of brightest glory,
Hover o’er a lowly bed—
Bed of Him foretold in story,
Son of Man, creation’s Head.

Refrain

Singing, Glory to God,
Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest,
Singing, Glory to God,
Glory to God,
Glory to God in the highest,

Wise men traveled till they found Him,
Found a King in Bethlehem!
King, with sheep and cattle ’round Him?
King, without a diadem?
Yes! the Prince of Peace eternal,
King of kings, of lords the Lord!
Hark! the swelling choirs supernal
As they join with one accord:

Refrain

Let us lift our hearts and voices
Prince Immanuel’s praise to sing;
While the heav’nly host rejoices,
Let us, too, our tribute bring.
Heav’nward, now, His star is pointing,
Where He sits at God’s right hand,
Unto each His crown appointing,
Who before His throne shall stand.

Refrain

I love to hear sweet voices sing,
That Day of all the best,
When earliest in the morn they bring
The news of Christmas blest,
And far away old echoes ring,
As bidding me to rest!

For then with waking thoughts intent
My soul looks up on high,
And mingles musing with relent
And fain ’twould see Christ nigh;
Hear for itself, ere time be spent,
Peace from the azure sky.

But thou no longer in our race
By flesh the virgin-born
Is known to us, yet Jesus’ grace
Leaves not His forlorn;
Since now good Christians see His face
By faith, on Christmas morn!

Then come, ye faithful, great and small,
Come hasten to the sight,
Where Jesus at our festival
Comes down, the shining Light,
To fill all hearts, who hear His call,
With glory beaming bright!

In the early morning, early,
Ere the dawn was even nigh,
Gloria in excelsis Deo,
Glory be to God on high.
When the crown-like stars were lustrous,
When the dew was on the sod,
Sang the angels to the shepherds,
Sang the choristers of God.

To the humble Bethlehem shepherds,
On the first glad Christmas morn,
Sang the choir of God angelic,
“Christ, the Son of God, is born.”
When the dew was white and pearly
Flashed a light across the sky,
In the early morning, early,
“Glory be to God on high.”

Glory in the heavens eternal,
Upon earth be glory, too,
For the day of grace hath broken,
And a King is born to you.
In the early morning, early,
“Glory be to God on high”
Rang the sound of angels harping
Through the still and list’ning sky.

Let glory be to God on high:
Peace be on earth as in the sky;
Good will to men! We bow the knee,
We praise, we bless, we worship Thee;
We give Thee thanks, Thy Name we sing,
Almighty Father! Heav’nly King!

O Lord, the sole begotten Son,
Who bore the crimes which we had done;
Son of the Father, who wast slain
To take away the sins of men;
O Lamb of God, whose blood was spilt
For all the world, and all its guilt—

Have mercy on us, through Thy blood;
Receive our prayer, O Lamb of God!
For Thou art holy; Thou alone,
At God’s right hand, upon His throne,
In all His glory, art adored,
With Thee, O Holy Ghost, One Lord.

Let Heav’n and earth rejoice and sing,
Salute this happy morn;
The Savior which is Christ our King,
He on this day was born;
The Savior which is Christ our King,
He on this day was born.

Come let us join our hearts to God,
And thus exalt His fame;
To save us all this Babe was born,
And Jesus is His Name;
To save us all this Babe was born,
And Jesus is His Name.

Wise men and kings rich gifts did bring
To Bethlehem straightway;
Conducted by a leading star,
Where Christ our Savior lay;
Conducted by a leading star,
Where Christ our Savior lay.

O Lord, to Thee all glory be,
Whom Heav’n and earth adore,
For our Redeemer we will praise
This day and evermore;
For our Redeemer we will praise
This day and evermore.

Little children, can you tell,
Do you know the story well,
Every girl and every boy,
Why the angels sing for joy,
On the Christmas morning.

Yes, we know the story well;
Listen now, and hear us tell
Every girl and every boy,
Why the angels sing for joy,
On the Christmas morning.

Shepherds sat upon the ground,
Fleecy flocks were scattered round,
When a brightness filled the sky,
And a song was heard on high
On the Christmas morning.

“Joy and peace!” the angels sang;
Far the pleasant echoes rang;
“Peace on earth, to men good-will”;
Hark! the angels sing it still
On the Christmas morning.

For a little Babe that day
Cradled in a manger lay,
Born on earth our Lord to be;
This the wondering angels see
On the Christmas morning.

Joy our little hearts shall fill,
Peace and love, and all good-will;
This fair Babe of Bethlehem
Children loves, and blesses them
On the Christmas morning.

Now lift the carol, men and maids,
Now wake exultant singing;
This day the Well of Life first sprang,
Who shall declare His springing?
It is the birthday of our Peace;
This day for man the weary,
The everlasting Son of God
Was born of blessèd Mary.

Refrain

Noel! Noel!
Proclaim the Savior’s birth;
He raises us to Heaven,
O hail His coming down to earth.

He was not born in such sweet days,
As we of yore remember;
’Twas not the sunny summer time,
Oh! ’twas the cold December:
As shines the sun above the snows
When nature’s life is lying
Fast bound in winter’s icy chain,
So came He to the dying.

Refrain

He did not bring a royal train,
A host no man might number,
Nor lay begirt by damask folds,
Nor lulled by harp to slumber.
Oh, He was wrapped in swathing bands
Whose might o’erspans the Heaven,
And that mean trough where oxen fed,
For His first rest was given.

Refrain

There were poor shepherds in the field,
Their flocks at midnight tending;
Then Heav’n came down and brought for news,
A rapture never ending;
So they went swift to Bethlehem,
And saw—and told the story
Of Christ the Lord, a little Child,
And angels singing, “Glory.”

Refrain

Not in the manger lies He now;
Far o’er the sapphire portal
At God’s right hand of power He sits
Who was this day made mortal:
All in the highest, holiest place,
Where there may dwell none other,
There our own Manhood sits enthroned,
There is our elder Brother.

Refrain

The birthday of our God and King—
Lo! we are called to greet Him;
The everlasting Bridegroom comes,
Oh, go ye out to meet Him.
This is the end of all below,
The crown of love’s best story;
Christ stands and knocks—oh, happy souls,
Receive the King of glory.

Refrain

What is the song the angels sing?
Sweetly sing, gladly sing;
What is the song the angels sing,
On a Christmas morning?
O, “Peace on earth,” the angels sing,
Sweetly sing, gladly sing,
O, “Peace on earth,” the angels sing,
On a Christmas morning.

Refrain

O blessèd morn! O wondrous King!
A Savior born, the Lord’s anointed,
Enters on the work appointed,
Leaves the heav’nly world awhile,
God and man to reconcile.
(repeat)

What is the blessing angels bring?
Gladly bring, truly bring;
What is the blessing angels bring,
On a Christmas morning?
“Good will to men,” the angels bring,
Gladly bring, truly bring;
“Good will to men,” the angels bring,
On a Christmas morning.

Refrain

O, tell me why should children sing?
Sweetly sing, gladly sing;
O, tell me why should children sing,
On a Christmas morning?
In Bethlehem was born a King,
Children’s King, angels’ King;
In Bethlehem was born a King,
On a Christmas morning.

Refrain

Then let us all together sing,
Sweetly sing, gladly sing;
Then let us all together sing,
On this Christmas morning.
Glory to Him Whom love did bring,
Sweetly bring, gladly bring;
Glory to Him Whom love did bring,
On this Christmas morning.

Refrain

On the birthday of the Lord,
Angel choirs, with one accord,
Joyous chant before the throne:
Glory be to God alone!

Refrain

Lo! A virgin bore the Son,
Christ she bore, the Holy One,
Virgin ever undefiled.

Born is our Emmanuel,
Gabriel did the wonder tell;
Prophet eyes afar adored
Him, the sole-begotten Word.

Refrain

Seraphs bring the gladsome tale,
Shepherds sing o’er hill and vale
Of the blessèd Savior’s birth,
Sweetest news for all the earth.

Refrain

Hail the day, the happy morn;
Hail the Child of Mary born;
Born of God’s o’ershadowing might,
God of God, and Light of Light.

Refrain

See! the wise their gifts unfold,
Incense, myrrh and royal gold;
Kneeling to th’eternal King,
Glory to our God they sing.

Refrain

Sing, sing for Christmas!
Welcome, happy day!
For Christ is born our Savior,
To take our sins away.
Sing, sing a joyful song,
Loud and clear today;
To praise our Lord and Savior,
Who in a manger lay.

Refrain

Sing, sing for Christmas,
Welcome, happy day!
For Christ is born our Savior,
To take our sins away.

Tell, tell the story
Of the wondrous night,
When shepherds who were watching
Their flocks till morning light,
Saw angel hosts from Heav’n,
Heard the angel voice,
And so were told the tidings
Which make the world rejoice.

Refrain

Soft, softly shining,
Stars were in the sky,
And silver fell the moonlight
On hill and mountain high,
When suddenly the night
Shone as bright midday,
With angel hosts who herald
The reign of peace for aye.

Refrain

Hark, hear them singing,
Singing in the sky,
Be worship, honor, glory,
And praise to God on high!
Peace, peace, goodwill to men
Born the Child from Heav’n!
The Christ, the Lord, the Savior
The Son to you is giv’n!

Refrain

Sing, sing for Christmas!
Echo, earth, the cry,
Of worship, honor, glory,
And praise to God on high!
Sing, sing the joyful song,
Let it never cease,
Of glory in the highest,
On earth, good will and peace.

Refrain

Stars all bright are beaming
From the skies above,
Nature’s face all gleaming,
Shines with Heaven’s own love.

Refrain

Wake and sing, good Christians,
On this birthday morn,
Heav’n and earth are telling
God for man is born.

Here for us abiding,
Cradled in a stall,
All His glory hiding,
See the Lord of all.

Refrain

Born that He might lead us
From this desert home,
Guide our way, and feed us,
Till the end shall come!

Refrain

Thousand thousand blessings
Sing we for His love,
Choral hymns addressing
To our Lord above.

Refrain

Glory in the highest,
For this wondrous birth;
Choir of Heaven! thou criest
Peace to all on earth!

Refrain

Waking out of silence rang a heav’nly song,
Darkness giving place to light divine;
Thro’ the gates of Heaven came an angel throng,
Hasting down to join in chant sublime;
Wonderful the music over Bethle’em’s hill!
Wonderful the light that shone around!
“Glory in the highest,” and on earth goodwill!
Earth, attend the glad, angelic sound!

Refrain

Silent no more
Is the scene of that song;
Still to faith it ringeth clear,
To love it still is dear,
No darkness may reign
O’er that hillside and plain;
That light divine,
To faith doth shine,
So bright, so strong!

Waking out of silence came an angel voice,
“Fear not,” thus doth Heaven comfort send,
Fear may well give place to joy, O earth, rejoice!
Angel tongues announce your mighty Friend.
Shepherds heard the message, we are telling now;
Sages followed far the King to see.
Come, oh come, and in His royal presence bow!
Hail the day He came our King to be.

Refrain

Waking out of silence comes a voice divine,
Clouds and darkness lift, and are no more;
Heav’nly light and blessing o’er our pathway shine,
Jesus speaks to help us o’er and o’er.
He, who came attended by the angel choir,
He, who lowly lay in yonder stall!
Reigneth now the King of kings, our hearts’ Desire,
Fairest of ten thousand! Lord of all!

Refrain

“What means this glory round our feet,”
The Magi mused, “more bright than morn!”
And voices chanted clear and sweet,
“Today the Prince of Peace is born!”
“What means this star,” the shepherds said,
“That brightens through the rocky glen?”
And angels answering overhead,
Sang “Peace on earth, good will to men!”

’Tis now two thousand years, and more,
[originally ’Tis eighteen hundred years, and more]
Since those sweet oracles were dumb;
We wait for Him, like them of yore;
Alas! He seems so slow to come!
But it was said, in words of gold,
No time nor sorrow e’er shall dim,
That little children might be bold,
In perfect trust to come to Him.

All round about our feet shall shine
A light like that the wise men saw,
If we our loving wills incline
To that sweet Life which is the Law.
So shall we learn to understand
The simple faith of shepherds then,
And kindly clasping hand in hand,
Sing “Peace on earth, good will to men!”

How grand and how bright
That wonderful night,
When angels to Bethlehem came!
They burst forth like fires,
They struck their gold lyres,
And mingled their song with the flame.

The shepherds were mazed,
The pretty lambs gazed
At darkness thus turned into light:
No voice was there heard
From man, beast or bird,
So sudden and solemn the sight.

And then, when the sound reechoed around,
The hills and the dales all awoke:
The moon and the stars
Stopped their fiery cars,
And listened while Gabriel spoke:

“I bring you,” said he,
“From the glorious Three,
Good tidings to gladden mankind;
The Savior is born,
But He lies forlorn
In a manger, as soon you will find.”

At mention of this,
(The source of all bliss,)
The angels sang loudly and long;
The soared to the sky,
Beyond mortal eye,
But left us the words of their song:

“All glory to God,”
Who laid by His rod,
To smile on the world through His Son:
“And peace be on earth,”
For this wonderful birth
Wonderful conquests has won;

“And good will to man,”
Though his life’s a span,
And his thoughts so evil and wrong;
Then pray, Christians, pray;
But let Christmas day
Have your sweetest and holiest song.

“I bring you,” said he,
“From the glorious Three,
Good tidings to gladden mankind;
The Savior is born,
But He lies all forlorn
In a manger, as soon you will find.”

…

“All glory to God,”
Who laid by His rod,
To smile on the world through His Son:
“And peace be on earth,”
For this wonderful birth
Most wonderful conquests has won;

“And good will to man,”
Though his life’s but a span,
And his thoughts so evil and wrong;
Then pray, Christians, pray;
But let Christmas day
Have your sweetest and holiest song.

Come, all ye shepherds, ye children of earth,
Come ye, bring greetings to yon heavenly birth.
For Christ the Lord to all men is given,
To be our Savior sent down from Heaven:
Come, welcome Him!

Hasten then, hasten to Bethlehem’s stall,
There to see heaven descend to us all.
With holy feeling, there humbly kneeling,
We will adore Him, bow down before Him,
Worship the King.

Angels and shepherds together we go
Seeking the Savior from all earthly woe;
While angels, winging, His praise are singing,
Heaven’s echoes ringing, peace on earth bringing,
Good will to men.

Come, your hearts and voices raising,
Christ the Lord with gladness praising;
Loudly sing His love amazing,
Worthy folk of Christendom.

Sin and death may well be groaning,
Satan now may well be moaning;
We, our full salvation owning,
Cast our every care away.

See how God, for us providing,
Gave His Son and life abiding;
He our weary steps is guiding
From earth’s woes to heav’nly joy.

Christ, from Heaven to us descending
And in love our race befriending,
In our need His help extending,
Saved us from the wily foe.

Jacob’s Star in all its splendor
Beams with comfort sweet and tender,
Forcing Satan to surrender,
Breaking all the powers of hell.

From the bondage that oppressed us,
From sin’s fetters that possessed us,
From the grief that sore distressed us,
We, the captives, now are free.

Oh, the joy beyond expressing
When by faith we grasp this blessing
And to Thee we come confessing
That our freedom Thou hast wrought!

Gracious Child, we pray Thee, hear us,
From Thy lowly manger cheer us,
Gently lead us and be near us
Till we join th’angelic choir.

Let us now go to Bethlehem,
To see the wondrous thing—
Mary and Joseph and with them
The Babe, our infant King!
For we shall find on earth
The Heav’n of Heav’ns in Him,
The holy, holy, holy Son,
Beneath the cherubim.1

Let us now go to Bethlehem,
To see the wondrous thing—
Mary and Joseph and with them
The Babe, our infant King—
His Father’s glory come
To lift our hearts above.
First loved by Him and angel hosts
We carol back His love.

Let us then go to Bethlehem—
Faith’s star shall guide the way
To Jesus cradled in His Church,
This bright appearing day!
There, light’s true Light to Thee
We sing with glad accord.
To meet it is to celebrate
Thy birthday, Jesus, Lord!

1We see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that He by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

Hebrews 2:9

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

Refrain

O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;

Refrain

Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

Refrain

See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;

Refrain

Lo! star led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.

Refrain

Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?

Refrain

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

Refrain

Our day of joy is here again,
With love and peace and song;
Come, let us join th’angelic strain
With voices clear and strong.

Refrain

Glory to our God, we sing,
Glory to our Lord and King;
Peace, goodwill with all abide
This holy Christmas tide.

When darkness lay upon this earth,
A glorious light did shine,
God sent a Gift of priceless worth
And showed His love divine.

Refrain

Now to the manger let us go
To worship and adore
The tender Babe upon the straw,
Our Savior evermore.

Refrain

How wonderful that God’s own Son
Should so Himself abase!
He thrust the mighty from their throne,
And gave the lowly grace.

Refrain

Sleep, my little Jesus,
On Thy bed of hay,
While the shepherds homeward
Journey on their way.
Mother is Thy shepherd
And will her vigil keep:
Did the voices wake Thee?
O sleep, my Jesus, sleep!

Refrain

Softly sleep, sweetly sleep,
My Jesus, sleep!

Sleep, my little Jesus,
While Thou art my own!
Ox and ass Thy neighbors,
Shalt Thou have a throne?
Will they call me blessèd?
Shall I stand and weep?
Be it far, Jehovah!
O sleep, my Jesus, sleep!

Refrain

Sleep, my little Jesus,
Wonder-baby mine!
Well the singing angels
Greet Thee as divine.
Through my heart, as heaven
Low the echoes sweep
Of glory to Jehovah!
O sleep, my Jesus, sleep!

Refrain

Hail to the Lord Who comes,
Comes to His temple gate;
Not with His angel host,
Not in His kingly state;
No shouts proclaim Him nigh,
No crowds His coming wait.

But, borne upon the throne
Of Mary’s gentle breast,
Watched by her duteous love,
In her fond arms at rest,
Thus to His Father’s house
He comes, the heav’nly Guest.

There Joseph at her side
In reverent wonder stands,
And, filled with holy joy,
Old Simeon in his hands
Takes up the promised Child,
The Glory of all lands.

Hail to the great First-born
Whose ransom price they pay!
The Son before all worlds,
The Child of man today,
That He might ransom us
Who still in bondage lay.

O Light of all the earth,
Thy children wait for Thee!
Come to Thy temples here,
That we, from sin set free,
Before Thy Father’s face
May all presented be!

O happy day, when first was poured
The blood of our redeeming Lord!
O happy day, when first began
His sufferings for sinful man!

Just entered on this world of woe,
His blood already learned to flow;
His future death was thus expressed,
And thus His early love confessed.

From heaven descending to fulfill
The mandates of His Father’s will,
E’en now behold the victim lie,
The Lamb of God, prepared to die!

Lord, circumcise our hearts, we pray,
Our fleshly natures purge away;
Thy Name, Thy likeness may they bear:
Yea, stamp Thy holy image there!

O Lord, the virgin born, to Thee
Eternal praise and glory be,
Whom with the Father we adore,
And Holy Ghost forevermore.

In His temple now behold Him,
See the long expected Lord;
Ancient prophets had foretold Him—
God has now fulfilled His word.
Now to praise Him, His redeemèd
Shall break forth with one accord.

In the arms of her who bore Him,
Virgin pure, behold Him lie,
While his agèd saints adore Him
Ere in faith and hope they die.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Lo, th’incarnate God most high.

Jesus, by Thy presentation,
Thou, who didst for us endure,
Make us see our great salvation,
Seal us with Thy promise sure.
And present us in Thy glory
To Thy Father, cleansed and pure.

Prince and Author of salvation,
Be Thy boundless love our theme!
Jesus, praise to Thee be given
By the world Thou didst redeem.
With the Father and the Spirit,
Lord of majesty supreme!

In peace and joy I now depart
At God’s disposing;
For full of comfort is my heart,
Soft reposing.
So the Lord hath promised me,
And death is but a slumber.

’Tis Christ that wrought this work for me,
My faithful Savior,
Whom Thou hast made mine eyes to see
By Thy favor.
Now I know He is my Life,
My Help in need and dying.

Him Thou hast unto all set forth
Their great Salvation
And to His kingdom called the earth,
Every nation,
By Thy dear and wholesome Word,
In every place resounding.

He is the Hope and saving Light
Of lands benighted;
By Him are they who dwelt in night
Fed and lighted.
He is Israel’s Praise and Bliss,
Their Joy, Reward, and Glory.

Light of the Gentile nations,
Thy people’s joy and love,
Dawn by Thy Spirit hither,
We gladly come to prove
Thy presence in Thy temple,
And wait with earnest mind,
As Simeon once had waited
His Savior God to find.

Yes, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee,
Ev’n now, in ev’ry place,
Where Thy true Word hath promised
That they should see Thy face.
Thou yet wilt gently grant us,
Who gather round Thee here,
In faith’s strong arms to bear Thee,
As once that aged seer.

Be Thou our joy, our brightness,
That shines ’mid pain and loss,
Our Sun in times of terror,
The glory round our cross;
A glow in sinking spirits,
A sunbeam in distress,
Physician, friend in sickness;
In death our happiness.

Let us, O Lord, be faithful
With Simeon to the end,
That so his dying song may
From all our hearts ascend;
“O Lord, now let Thy servant
Depart in peace for aye,
Since I have seen my Savior,
Have here beheld His day.”

My Savior, I behold Thee
Now with the eye of faith;
No foe of Thee can rob me,
Though bitter words he saith;
Within Thy heart abiding,
As Thou dost dwell in me,
No pain, no death has terrors
To part my soul from Thee!

Thou Light of Gentile nations, Thou Savior from above,
Drawn by Thy Spirit’s leading, we come with joy and love
Into Thy holy temple and wait with earnest mind
As Simeon once had waited His God and Lord to find.

Yea, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee in every holy place
Where Thy true Word has promised that we should see Thy face.
Today Thou still dost grant us who gather around Thee here
In arms of faith to bear Thee as did that agèd seer.

Be Thou our Joy and Brightness, our Cheer in pain and loss,
Our Sun in darkest terror, the Glory round our cross,
A Star for sinking spirits, a Beacon in distress,
Physician, Friend in sickness, in death our Happiness.

Let us, O Lord, be faithful like Simeon to the end,
So that his prayer exultant may from our hearts ascend:
“O Lord, now let Thy servant depart in peace, I pray,
Since I have seen my Savior and here beheld His day.”

My Savior, I behold Thee with faith’s enlightened eye;
Of Thee no foe can rob me, his threats I can defy.
Within Thy heart abiding, as Thou, O Lord, in me,
Death can no longer frighten nor part my soul from Thee.

Lord, here on earth Thou seemest at times to frown on me,
And through my tears I often can scarce distinguish Thee;
But in the heavenly mansions shall nothing dim my sight;
There shall I see Thy glory in never-changing light.

It is glory just to walk with Him Whose blood has ransomed me;
It is rapture for my soul each day.
It is joy divine to feel Him near where’er my path may be.
Bless the Lord, it’s glory all the way!

Refrain

It is glory just to walk with Him,
It is glory just to walk with Him,
He will guide my steps aright
Through the vale and o’er the height,
It is glory just to walk with Him.

It is glory when the shadows fall to know that He is near.
O what joy to simply trust and pray!
It is glory to abide in Him when skies above are clear.
Yes, with Him, it’s glory all the way!

Refrain

’Twill be glory when I walk with Him on Heaven’s golden shore,
Never from His side again to stray.
’Twill be glory, wondrous glory with the Savior evermore,
Everlasting glory all the way!

Refrain

Lord Jesus, in the days of old
Two walked with Thee in waning light;
And love’s blind instinct made them bold
To crave Thy presence through the night.
As night descends, we too would pray,
O leave us not at close of day.

Did not their hearts within them burn?
And though their Lord they failed to know,
Did not their spirits inly yearn?
They could not let the Stranger go.
Much more must we who know Thee pray,
O leave us not at close of day.

O Zion, open wide thy gates,
Let figures disappear;
A Priest and Victim, both in One,
The Truth Himself, is here.

No more the simple flock shall bleed;
Behold, the Father’s Son
Himself to His own altar comes
For sinners to atone.

Conscious of hidden deity,
The lowly virgin brings
Her newborn Babe, with two young doves,
Her humble offerings.

The agèd Simeon sees at last
His Lord, so long desired,
And Anna welcomes Israel’s hope,
With holy rapture fired.

But silent knelt the mother blest
Of the yet silent Word,
And pondering all things in her heart,
With speechless praise adored.

All glory to the Father be,
All glory to the Son,
All glory, Holy Ghost, to Thee,
While endless ages run.

At the cross, her station keeping,
Stood the mournful mother weeping,
Where He hung, the dying Lord;
For her soul of joy bereavèd,
Bowed with anguish, deeply grievèd,
Felt the sharp and piercing sword.

Oh, how sad and sore distressèd
Now was she, that mother blessèd
Of the sole begotten One;
Deep the woe of her affliction,
When she saw the crucifixion
Of her ever glorious Son.

Who, on Christ’s dear mother gazing
Pierced by anguish so amazing
Born of woman, would not weep?
Who, on Christ’s dear mother thinking
Such a cup of sorrow drinking
Would not share her sorrows deep?

For His people’s sins chastisèd,
She beheld her Son despisèd,
Scourged, and crowned with thorns entwined;
Saw Him then from judgment taken,
And in death by all forsaken,
Till His Spirit He resigned.

Jesu, may her deep devotion
Stir in me the same emotion,
Fount of love, Redeemer kind,
That my heart fresh ardor gaining,
And a purer love attaining,
May with Thee acceptance find.

Near the cross, her vigil keeping,
Stood the mother, worn with weeping,
Where He hung, the dying Lord;
Through her soul, in anguish groaning,
Bowed in sorrow, sighing, moaning,
Passed the sharp and piercing sword.

O the weight of her affliction!
Hers, who won God’s benediction,
Hers, who bore God’s Holy One:
O that speechless, ceaseless yearning!
O those dim eyes never turning
From her wondrous, suffering Son!

Who upon that mother gazing,
In her trouble so amazing,
Born of woman, would not weep?
Who of Christ’s dear mother thinking,
While her Son that cup is drinking,
Would not share her sorrow deep?

For His people’s sin chastisèd
She beheld her Son despisèd,
Bound and bleeding ’neath the rod;
Saw the Lord’s Anointed taken,
Dying desolate, forsaken,
Heard Him yield His soul to God.

Near Thy cross, O Christ, abiding,
Grief and love my heart dividing,
I with her would take my place;
By Thy guardian cross uphold me,
In Thy dying, Christ, enfold me
With the deathless arms of grace.