The First Noel

The first No­el the an­gel did say

Was to cer­tain poor shep­herds

In fields as they lay;

In fields where they lay tend­ing their sheep

On a cold win­ter’s night that was so deep.

Noel

No­el

No­el

No­el

Born is the King of Is­ra­el.

They look­èd up and saw a star

Shining in the east

be­yond them far;

And to the earth it gave great light

And so it con­tin­ued both day and night.

And by the light of that same star

Three wise men came from coun­try far;

To seek for a king was their in­tent

And to fol­low the star wher­ev­er it went.

This star drew nigh to the north­west

Over Beth­le­hem it took its rest;

And there it did both stop and stay

Right ov­er the place where Je­sus lay.

Then did they know as­sur­ed­ly

Within that house the King did lie;

One en­tered it them for to see

And found the Babe in po­ver­ty.

Then en­tered in those wise men three

Full rev­er­ent­ly up­on the knee

And of­fered there

in His pre­sence

Their gold and myrrh and frank­in­cense.

Between an ox stall and an ass

This Child tru­ly there He was;

For want of cloth­ing they did Him lay

All in a man­ger

among the hay.

Then let us all with one ac­cord

Sing prais­es to our heav’n­ly Lord;

That hath made Heav’n and earth of naught

And with His blood man­kind hath bought.

If we in our time shall do well

We shall be free from death and hell;

For God hath pre­pared for us all

A rest­ing place in ge­ner­al.