While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks (Tate)

While shep­herds watched their flocks by night

All seat­ed on the ground

The an­gel of the Lord came down

And glo­ry shone around

And glo­ry shone around.

Fear not! said he

for migh­ty dread

Had seized their trou­bled mind.

“Glad tid­ings of great joy I bring

To you and all man­kind

To you and all man­kind.

“To you

in Da­vid’s town

this day

Is born of Da­vid’s line

A Sav­ior

who is Christ the Lord

And this shall be the sign

And this shall be the sign.

The heav’nly Babe you there shall find

To hu­man view dis­played

All mean­ly wrapped in swath­ing bands

And in a man­ger laid

And in a man­ger laid.

Thus spake the ser­aph and forth­with

Appeared a shin­ing throng

Of ang­els prais­ing God on high

Who thus ad­dressed their song

Who thus ad­dressed their song:

All glo­ry be to God on high

And to the Earth be peace;

Good will hence­forth from Heav’n to men

Begin and nev­er cease

Begin and nev­er cease!