Scripture Verse

The angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:10–14

Introduction

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Julia H. Johnston (1849–1919)

Words: Ju­lia H. John­ston, in Bi­ble Stu­dy Songs, by Ber­tha F. Vel­la & Da­ni­el Tow­ner (Bos­ton, Mas­sa­chu­setts: Pil­grim Press, 1899), page 128.

Music: Da­ni­el B. Tow­ner (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a bet­ter pho­to of John­ston,

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Daniel B. Towner (1850–1919)

Lyrics

Under the beau­ti­ful Sy­ri­an sky,
Keeping their flocks while the night went by,
Shepherds were watch­ing; when on their sight,
Suddenly burst a glo­ri­ous light;
Lo, from the hea­vens, an an­gel fair
Came with a mes­sage to meet them there;
While they were tremb­ling with fear and dread,
These were the words that the an­gel said:

Refrain

Tidings, good tid­ings of joy I bring,
Christ is born, who is Lord and king
;
This was the an­gel’s won­der­ful song;
Sing it again, and the notes pro­long.

This, said the an­gel, shall be the sign:
Laid in a man­ger, the Babe di­vine,
Ye in the ci­ty may soon be­hold—
City of Dav­id, the place fore­told.

Suddenly then with the an­gel bright,
Multitudes fair of the hosts of light,
Hasten their ju­bi­lant notes to raise,
Joining their cho­rus of joy and praise.

Refrain

Into the ci­ty where Christ was born,
Hastened the shep­herds at ear­ly morn:
There, in the man­ger, they saw the Child,
Holy, and harm­less and un­de­filed.
Come! Let us seek Him who came to earth;
Let us re­joice in His low­ly birth;
Spread the good news of the Sav­ior’s love;
Join the glad song of the hosts above.

Refrain

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