What Means This Glory Round Our Feet?

What means this glo­ry round our feet

The Ma­gi mused

more bright than morn!

And voic­es chant­ed clear and sweet

Today the Prince of Peace is born!

What means this star

the shep­herds said

That bright­ens through the roc­ky glen?

And an­gels an­swer­ing ov­er­head

Sang Peace on earth

good will to men!

’Tis now two thou­sand years

and more

[originally ’Tis eight­een hund­red years

and more]

Since those sweet ora­cles were dumb;

We wait for Him

like them of yore;

Alas! He seems so slow to come!

But it was said

in words of gold

No time nor sor­row e’er shall dim

That lit­tle child­ren might be bold

In per­fect trust to come to Him.

All round about our feet shall shine

A light like that the wise men saw

If we our lov­ing wills in­cline

To that sweet life which is the law.

So shall we learn to un­der­stand

The sim­ple faith of shep­herds then

And kind­ly clasp­ing hand in hand

Sing Peace on earth

good will to men!