Blessèd night, when first that plain
Echoed with the joy­ful strain,
Peace has come to earth again.
Alleluia!

Blessèd hills, that heard the song,
Of the glo­ri­ous an­gel throng
Swelling all your slopes along.
Alleluia!

Happy shep­herds, on whose ear
Fell the tid­ings glad and clear,
God to man is draw­ing near.
Alleluia!

Happy shep­herds, on whose eyes,
Shone the glo­ry from on high,
Of the hea­ven­ly ma­jes­ty.
Alleluia!

Happy, hap­py Beth­le­hem,
Judah’s least but bright­est gem,
Where the rod from Jes­se’s stem,
Alleluia!

Scion of a prince­ly race,
Sprung in Heav’ns own per­fect grace,
Yet in fee­ble low­li­ness.
Alleluia!

This, the wo­man’s pro­mised seed,
Abram’s migh­ty son in­deed;
Succorer of earth’s great need.
Alleluia!

This the vic­tor in our war,
This the glo­ry seen afar,
This the light of Ja­cob’s star!
Alleluia!

Happy Ju­dah, rise and own
Him, the heir of Da­vid’s throne,
David’s Lord, and Da­vid’s son.
Alleluia!

Babe of pro­mise, born at last,
After wea­ry ag­es past,
When our hopes were ov­er­cast.
Alleluia!

Babe of weak­ness, can it be
That the earth’s great vic­to­ry
Is to be achieved by Thee?
Alleluia!

Child of meek­ness, can it be,
That the proud re­bel­lious knee
Of this world shall bend to thee?
Alleluia!

Child of po­ver­ty, art Thou
He to whom all Heav’n shall bow,
And all earth shall pay the vow?
Alleluia!

Can that fee­ble head alone
Bear the weight of such a crown,
As be­longs to Da­vid’s son?
Alleluia!

Can these help­less hands of Thine,
Wield a scep­ter so di­vine,
As be­longs to Jes­se’s line?
Alleluia!

Heir of pain and toil, whom none
In this ev­il day will own,
Art Thou the Eter­nal One?
Alleluia!

Thou, o’er whom the sword and rod
Wave, in haste to drink Thy blood,
Art Thou ve­ry Son of God?
Alleluia!

Thus re­vealed to shep­herds’ eyes
Hidden from the great and wise,
Entering earth in low­ly guise:
Alleluia!

Entering by this nar­row door,
Laid upon this roc­ky floor,
Placed in yon­der man­ger poor.
Alleluia!

We adore Thee as our king,
And to Thee our song we sing,
Our best of­fer­ing to Thee bring,
Alleluia!

Guarded by the shep­herds’ rod,
’Mid their flock, Thy poor abode;
Thus we own Thee, Lamb of God.
Alleluia!

Lamb of God, Thy low­ly name;
King of kings, we Thee pro­claim:
Heav’n and earth shall hear its fame.
Alleluia!

Bearer of our sins’ sad load,
Wielder of the ir­on rod,
Judah’s li­on, Lamb of God!
Alleluia!

Mighty King of right­eous­ness,
King of glo­ry, King of peace,
Never shall Thy king­dom cease!
Alleluia!

Thee, earth’s heir and Lord, we own;
Raise again its fall­en throne,
Take its ev­er­last­ing crown.
Alleluia!

Blessèd Babe of Beth­le­hem,
Owner of earth’s dia­dem,
Claim and wear the ra­di­ant gem
Alleluia!

Scatter dark­ness with Thy light,
End the sor­rows of our night;
Speak the word, and all is bright.
Alleluia!

Spoil the spoil­er of the earth,
Bring cre­ation’s se­cond birth,
Promised day of song and mirth.
Alleluia!

’Tis Thine Is­ra­el’s voice that calls,
Build again Thy Sa­lem’s wall,
Dwell with­in her ho­ly halls.
Alleluia!

’Tis Thy Church’s voice that cries,
Rend these long un­rend­ed skies,
Bridegroom of the Church, arise.
Alleluia!

Take to Thee Thy pow­er and reign,
Purify this earth again;
Cleanse it from each curse and stain.
Alleluia!

Sun of peace, no long­er stay,
Let the sha­dows flee away,
And the long night end in day.
Alleluia!

Let the day­spring from high,
That arose in Ju­dah’s sky,
Cover earth eter­nal­ly.
Alleluia!

Babe of Beth­le­hem, to Thee,
Infant of eter­ni­ty,
Everlasting glo­ry be!
Alleluia!