While Their Flocks the Shepherds Tended

While their flocks the shep­herds tend­ed

Heavenly hosts to earth des­cend­ed

Singing

with all voic­es blend­ed

Fear not

Christ is born to­day.

Eastern seers rich gifts had wrought Him

Gold

frank­in­cense

myrrh they brought Him;

Guided by a star they sought Him

Prince of Life and Vic­to­ry.

On that Child with Ma­ry gaz­ing

Join ye Christ­ians all in rais­ing

Songs to Him whom Heav­en is prais­ing

God in­car­nate come to men.

From this day’s first dawn to ev­en

Praise to Christ our king be giv­en

By all earth

and all in Heav­en

In our sweet­est

lof­ti­est praise.