Fear not! For, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people... The night was still, the stars did gleam, The mist lay pale and wide— When Heaven split the dark between, And drew the veil aside. Their voices rang, the mountains woke, The sky was all aflame— “Glory to God!” the heavens spoke, And down from light they came. O Lord of night, O Lord of day, Thy glory none can tell— We saw Thy hosts in bright array, Proclaim Emmanuel! Though dust we are, yet hearts can sing, And trembling voices dare— To seek Thee now, our newborn King, And whisper our shepherd’s prayer. Then spake an elder, worn and wise, Whose beard was white as rime, “Gather, my sons, lift up your eyes, For this is God’s own time. The Lord has stooped to man’s estate, The stars His heralds be— Now haste, my heart, nor tarry late, For Love hath come to thee.” O Lord of night, O Lord of day, Thy glory none can tell— We saw Thy hosts in bright array, Proclaim Emmanuel! Though poor we go, our souls shall bring The praise that angels bear— And at Thy feet our hearts shall sing, The shepherds’ humble prayer. Through briar and drift, through thorn and stone, Their footsteps found the way— Each heart a light, each hand His own, To greet the newborn babe. And when they came to Bethlehem, Where beasts and starlight lay— They knelt, and Glory’s song again Was reborn in hearts of clay. O Lord of night, O Lord of day, Thy glory none can tell— We saw Thy hosts in bright array, Proclaim Emmanuel! Our flocks may sleep, our hearts still sing, Though winter chills the air— The Heavens bowed, and crowned our King, And heard the shepherds’ prayer. Glory to God in the highest… Peace on Earth, good will to men…
