It came upon the midnight clear,
That glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold;
Peace on the earth, good will to men,
From Heaven’s all gracious king.
The world in solemn stillness lay,
To hear the angels sing.
With sorrow brought by sin and strife
The world has suffered long;
And since the angel song, have passed
Two thousand years of wrong;
And man, at war with man, hears not
The love-song which they bring;
O hush the noise, you men of strife
And hear the angels sing.
And those whose journey now is hard,
Whose hope is burning low,
Who tread the rocky path of life
With painful steps and slow:
O listen to the news of love
Which makes the heavens ring!
O rest beside the weary road
And hear the angels sing!
And still the days are hastening on –
By prophets seen of old –
Towards the fullness of the time
When comes the age foretold:
Then earth and heaven renewed shall see
The Prince of Peace, their king;
And all the world repeat the song
Which now the angels sing.