Silently, si­lent­ly o’er Beth­le­hem,
Silently come ze­phyrs from the sea, the sea;
Gently, like per­fumed, per­fumed breath;
Gently, like per­fumed, per­fumed breath,
Or mystery, sweet mys­te­ry.
Silently, si­lent­ly, Ze­phyrs from the sea;
Silently, si­lent­ly, O sweet mys­te­ry.

Silently, si­lent­ly o’er Beth­le­hem,
Silently the hea­vens smile above, above;
And all the shin­ing stars beam down,
And all the shin­ing stars beam down,
Like watch­ing eyes, like eyes of love.
Silently, si­lent­ly, smile ye heav’ns above;
Silently, si­lent­ly, watch, O eyes of love!

Silently, si­lent­ly o’er Beth­le­hem,
Silently, from wait­ing courts on high, on high,
Bright an­gel choirs with tun­èd lyres,
Bright an­gel choirs with tun­èd lyres,
In rea­di­ness from Heav’n draw nigh.
Silently, si­lent­ly, wait ye courts on high;
Silently, si­lent­ly, come ye an­gels nigh.

Silently, si­lent­ly o’er Beth­le­hem,
Silently from Hea­ven, pure and un­de­filed,
All meek­ly now doth en­ter in,
All meek­ly now doth en­ter in,
The Spi­rit of the ho­ly Child.
Silently, si­lent­ly, meek and un­de­filed;
Silently, si­lent­ly, come, O heav’n­ly Child!