There was dark­ness above,
There was dark­ness be­neath,
’Twas the dark­ness of night,
And the sha­dow of death;
When the day-star of life
Rose amid the deep gloom,
And il­lum­ined the dark­ness
Of death and the tomb.

As the shep­herds stood watch
By their flocks in the night;
While they slept on the sward,
’Neath the stars’ gen­tle light,
From the por­tals of bliss,
Came an an­gel­ic train,
Warbling mu­sic divine
Over Beth­le­hem’s plain.

To Je­ho­vah they sang,
Highest glo­ry be giv’n
Among mor­tals, good will;
Peace on earth, joy in Heav’n;
Echo sent back the strain
From each mount­ain and hill,
To Je­ho­vah be glo­ry,
To mor­tals good will.