Scripture Verse

…and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

Introduction

portrait
Robert Lowry (1826–1899)

Words: Le­tis Thorne, in Echo to Hap­py Voic­es (New York: Am­er­ican Tract So­cie­ty, 1869), num­ber 108.

Music: Ro­bert Low­ry (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pho­to of Thorne (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

While the si­lent stars are keep­ing
Faithful watch o’er Beth­le­hem’s plains,
Hark! along the night breeze sweep­ing,
Angel harps and heav’n­ly strains:

Refrain

Glory, glo­ry in the high­est!
Peace on earth, good will from Hea­ven!
Glory, glo­ry in the high­est!
Glory to our God!

Shepherds, won­der­ing, view the glo­ry
Lighting up the mid­night sky,
While they list­en to the sto­ry
Of that heav’n­ly com­pa­ny:

Refrain

They are sing­ing of a Sav­ior,
Fondly hoped for, pr­omised long,
Lo! He comes with heav’n­ly fa­vor,
Mingles with the bu­sy throng.

Refrain

Comes to preach the great sal­va­tion,
Comes to wipe the mourn­er’s tears,
Comes to free each cap­tive na­tion,
Comes to ban­ish all our fears.

Refrain

Let us, then, our of­fer­ings bring­ing,
Bow before Him and adore—
Join the heav’n­ly host in sing­ing
Praise to Je­sus ev­er­more.

Refrain