The Wexford Carol

Good peo­ple all

this Christ­mas time

Consider well and bear in mind

What our good God for us has done

In send­ing His be­lov­èd Son.

With Ma­ry ho­ly we should pray

To God with love this Christ­mas Day;

In Beth­le­hem upon the morn

There was a blest Mes­si­ah born.

The night be­fore that hap­py tide

The no­ble vir­gin and her guide

Were long time seek­ing up and down

To find a lodg­ing in the town.

But mark how all things came to pass:

From ev­ery door re­pelled

alas!

As long fore­told

their re­fuge all

Was but a hum­ble ox­en stall.

Near Beth­le­hem did shep­herds keep

Their flocks of lambs and feed­ing sheep;

To whom God’s an­gels did ap­pear

Which put the shep­herds in great fear.

Prepare and go

the an­gels said

To Beth­le­hem

be not afraid;

For there you’ll find

this hap­py morn

A prince­ly babe

sweet Je­sus born.

With thank­ful heart and joy­ful mind

The shep­herds went the Babe to find

And as God’s an­gel has fore­told

They did our Sav­ior Christ be­hold.

Within a man­ger He was laid

And by His side the vir­gin maid

Attending to the Lord of Life

Who came on earth to end all strife.