Stanza 1
From heaven above to earth I come
To bear good news to every home
Glad tidings of great joy I bring
Whereof I now will say and sing
Stanza 2
To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild
This little child of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the earth
Stanza 3
This is the Christ, our God and Lord
Who in all need shall aid afford
He will himself your Savior be
From all your sins to set you free
Stanza 4
He will on you the gifts bestow
Prepared by God for all below
That in his kingdom, bright and fair
You may with us his glory share
Stanza 5
These are the tokens ye shall mark
The swaddling clothes and manger dark
There ye shall find the young child laid
By whom the heavens and earth were made
Stanza 6
Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Follow the shepherds and draw near
To see this wondrous gift of God
Who hath his own dear Son bestowed
Stanza 7
Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes
Who is it in yon manger lies
Who is this child, so young and fair
It is the Christ-child lying there
Stanza 8
Welcome to earth, thou noble Guest
Through whom the sinful world is blest
Thou comest to share my misery
What thanks shall I return to thee
Stanza 9
Ah, Lord, who hast created all
How hast thou made thee weak and small
To lie upon the coarse dry grass
The food of humble ox and ass
Stanza 10
Were earth a thousand times as fair
Beset with gold and jewels rare
She yet were far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for thee
Stanza 11
For velvets soft and silken stuff
Thou hast but hay and straw so rough
Whereon thou King, so rich and great
As 'twere thy heaven, art throned in state
Stanza 12
Thus hath it pleased thee to make plain
The truth to us poor fools and vain
That this world's honor, wealth, and might
Are naught and worthless in thy sight
Stanza 13
Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for thee
Stanza 14
My heart for very joy doth leap
My lips no more can silence keep
I too must sing with joyful tongue
That sweetest ancient cradle-song
Stanza 15
Glory to God in highest heaven
Who unto man his Son hath given
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new year to all the earth