The First Christmas Night

There was si­lence in Beth­le­hem’s fields that night

Where the shep­herds were keep­ing their sheep;

And the stars calm­ly shone from their beau­ti­ful height

While the flocks on the hills lay asleep;

Lo

the qui­et that fell in that ho­ly

mys­te­ri­ous hour

Spoke of pro­mise ful­filled

and of hope now re­vived

That for years had been robbed of her pow­er.

How drea­ry the ag­es of strife passed away

Since this mar­vel­ous night was fore­told;

How still the deep qui­et that reigns ere the day

And the mid­night so lone­ly and cold.

Love des­cend­ed to earth

where sheep on the hills lay asleep;

Then an an­gel spoke out of the won­der­ful birth—

That we no more need sor­row or weep.

Then sud­den­ly came to the angel most bright

All the host of the heav­en­ly choir

And a glo­ry broke forth far more dazz­ling to sight

Than the sun in its bright noon­day fire;

Now the si­lence is o’er

the pro­mise no long­er de­ferred

The an­gels sang out

and the shep­herds looked up:

Good tid­ings from Heav­en they heard.