The Shepherds Went Their Hasty Way

The shep­herds went their has­ty way

And found the low­ly sta­ble shed

Where the vir­gin mo­ther lay:

Now they checked their ea­ger tread

For to the Babe that to her clung

A mo­ther’s song the vir­gin sung.

They told her how a glo­ri­ous light

Far stream­ing from a heav­en­ly throng.

Round them shone

sus­pend­ing night!

While more sweet than mo­ther’s song

Blest an­gels hailed the Sav­ior’s birth;

Glory to God

and peace on earth.

She list­ened to the tale di­vine

And clos­er still the Babe she pressed;

While she cried

The Babe is mine!

Mother love o’er­flowed her breast:

Joy rose with­in her

like sum­mer’s morn;

Peace

peace on earth; its Prince is born.

Then

cried she

is my soul elate

That strife should van­ish

bat­tle cease;

Poor am I

of low es­tate

Mother of the Prince of Peace.

Joy ris­es in me like sum­mer’s morn;

Peace

peace on earth; its Prince is born.