Scripture Verse

Suddenly there was…a great company of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth, peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:13–14

Introduction

Words: John Ca­wood, in Se­lect­ion of Psalms and Hymns for Pub­lic and Pri­vate Use, by Tho­mas Cot­ter­ill (Lon­don: 1819).

Music: Rath­bun Ith­amar Con­key, 1849 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

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

portrait
Ithamar Conkey (1815–1867)

Lyrics

Hark! what mean those ho­ly voic­es,
Sweetly sound­ing through the skies?
Lo! the an­gel­ic host re­joic­es
Heavenly hal­le­lu­jahs rise.

Listen to the won­drous sto­ry,
Which they chant in hymns of joy;
“Glory in the high­est, glo­ry;
Glory be to God most high!

“Peace on earth, good will from Hea­ven,
Reaching far as man is found;
Souls re­deemed, and sins for­giv­en;
Loud our gold­en harps shall sound.

“Christ is born, the great An­oint­ed;
Heaven and earth His prais­es sing:
O re­ceive whom God ap­point­ed,
For your pro­phet, priest and king.

Hasten, mor­tals to adore Him;
Learn His name and taste His joy;
Till in Heav’n you sing be­fore Him,
Glory be to God most high!

Let us learn the won­drous sto­ry
Of our great Re­deem­er’s birth;
Spread the bright­ness of His glo­ry
Till it cov­er all the earth.