While Shepherds in Jewry

While shep­herds in Jew­ry were guard­ing their sheep

Promiscuously seat­ed

es­trang­èd from sleep

An an­gel from Heav­en pre­sent­ed to view

And thus he ac­cost­ed the trem­bling few:

Dispel all your sor­rows

and ban­ish your fears

For Je­sus your Sav­ior in Jew­ry ap­pears.

When Ad­am the first in re­bel­lion was found

Forbidden to tar­ry on hal­low­èd ground

Now Ad­am the se­cond ap­pears to re­trieve

The loss you sus­tained by the de­vil and Eve;

Then

shep­herds

be tran­quil

this in­stant arise

Go vis­it the Sav­ior and see where He lies.

A to­ken I leave you where­by you may find

This heav­en­ly strang­er

this friend to man­kind;

A man­ger His cra­dle

a stall His ab­ode

The ox­en are near Him be­hold­ing your Lord.

Then

shep­herds

be hum­ble

be meek and lie low

For Je­sus your Sav­ior’s abun­dant­ly so.

This won­drous sto­ry scarce bowed on the ear

When thou­sands of an­gels in glo­ry ap­pear;

They join in the con­cert

and this was the theme

All glo­ry to God and good will to­ward men.

Then she­pherds

strike in

join your voice to the choir

And catch a few sparks of ce­les­ti­al fire.

Hosannah

the ad­or­ing shep­herds now cried

Hosannah

the an­gels in glo­ry re­plied;

Salvation through Je­sus to mor­tals made known

In glo­ry to God through the birth of His Son.

Now

shep­herds

adieu

we com­mend you to God

Go vis­it the Son in His hum­ble abode.

To Beth­le­hem’s ci­ty the shep­herds re­paired

For full con­fir­ma­tion of what they had heard;

They en­tered the sta­ble with as­pects so mild

And there they be­held both the mo­ther and child.

Then make pro­cla­ma­tion

di­vulge it abroad

That Jews and Gen­tiles may hear of the Lord.