Scripture Verse

There were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Luke 2:9–10

Introduction

Words: Mrs. Bod­ley, in Car­ols for Use in Church, by Ri­chard R. Chope (Lon­don: Will­iam Clowes & Sons, 1894), num­ber 89.

Music: Ar­ranged by Her­bert S. Ir­ons (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know Bod­ley’s full name, or where to get a good pho­to of her or Ir­ons (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

How blest were they on Beth­le­hem’s plain,
Beneath the mid­night sky,
Who heard the an­gel’s joy­ful strain,
Who heard the an­gel’s joy­ful strain,
And felt that Hea­ven was nigh,
That Hea­ven was nigh.

Fear not, for on this ho­ly morn
Good news to all I bring;
In Beth­le­hem’s low­ly shrine is born,
In Beth­le­hem’s low­ly shrine is born,
Jesus, the in­fant King,
The in­fant King.

Then sud­den­ly a hea­ven­ly band
Join in the an­gel’s song,
While rock and hill through Ju­dah’s land
While rock and hill through Ju­dah’s land
The notes of praise pro­long,
Of praise pro­long.

And thus the joy­ful chor­us ran—
Glory to God be giv­en!
For peace on earth, good­will to man,
For peace on earth, good­will to man,
Descend to him from Hea­ven,
To him from Hea­ven.

Glad tid­ings! nor on Beth­le­hem’s plain
Alone that song was sweet;
Lo! mill­ions hail with joy the strain,
Lo! mill­ions hail with joy the strain,
And seek the Sav­ior’s feet,
The Sav­ior’s feet.

And still to mill­ions yet un­born
Shall sound from shore to shore
The song, which waked that ho­ly morn,
The song, which waked that ho­ly morn,
Till time shall be no more!
Shall be no more!