Scripture Verse

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men! Luke 2:14

Introduction

Introduction

portrait
Henry T. Smart (1813–1879)

Words: Ar­thur A. Gra­ley, in Hap­py Voic­es (New York: Am­er­ican Tract So­cie­ty, 1865).

Music: Re­gent Square Hen­ry T. Smart, in Psalms and Hymns for Di­vine Wor­ship (Lon­don: 1867) (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Gra­ley (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Christ is born, and Heav’n re­joic­es,
Judah’s plain is bathed in light;
Thousand, thou­sand harps and voic­es
Break the si­lence of the night.

Refrain

Glory in the high­est, glo­ry,
Peace on earth, good will to men.

Christ is born, the Lord’s An­oint­ed,
Leaves the heav’n­ly world a while,
Enters on the work ap­point­ed,
God and man to re­con­cile.

Refrain

To the lost He brings sal­va­tion,
Freedom to the cap­tive slave;
Peace amid death’s de­so­la­tion,
Victory o’er the boast­ing grave.

Refrain

Christ is born, O won­drous sto­ry!
Lord of life, yet born to die;
Sorrow’s child, yet King of Glo­ry:
Born to rule and reign on high.

Refrain

Royal babe, though few en­throne Him,
Few their grate­ful of­fer­ings bring;
All the tribes of earth shall own Him
Prince of Peace, cre­ation’s king.

Refrain