In the Country Nigh to Bethlehem

In the coun­try nigh to Beth­le­hem

On a star­ry night of old

There were in the fields abid­ing

Shepherds with their flocks in fold.

Round the flocks the faith­ful shep­herds

Kept their watch from eve till morn

Lest their sheep

so weak and help­less

Should by ev­il beasts be torn.

Haply

through their long night-watch­es

They made hill and val­ley ring

With the songs of ho­ly glad­ness

Which King Da­vid used to sing.

Songs of praise to God their shep­herd

Who de­fend­ed them from ill

And their wea­ry

wan­der­ing foot­steps

Guided to the wa­ters still.

As they watched

a burst of glo­ry

Shone around them from ab­ove

And a migh­ty glo­ri­ous an­gel

Calmed their fears with words of love:

Fear not

for be­hold

I bring you

Tidings full of great­est joy

Joy eter­nal

full of glad­ness

Joy which no­thing can de­stroy.

Unto you in Da­vid’s ci­ty

As was told by pro­phet’s word

Christ is born

your God and Sav­ior

Christ is born

your king and Lord.

Suddenly a host of an­gels

Raised their voic­es high and sang

Till the vault­ed arch of Heav­en

With the ec­ho­ing chor­us rang:

Glory

glo­ry

in the high­est

Unto God

and peace on earth;

To all na­tions joy­ful bring we

Tidings glad of Je­sus’ birth.

Lift we now our hearts and voic­es

Join we all with cheer­ful cry

Learned by shep­herds from the an­gels

Glory be to God on high!