Scripture Verse

I bring you good news of great joy. Luke 2:10

Introduction

portrait
Andrew Reed (1787–1862)

Words: An­drew Reed, 1817.

Music: War­saw Tho­mas Clark (1775–1859) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

If you know when the mu­sic was writ­ten, or where to get a good pic­ture of Clark (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Hark! hark!—the notes of joy
Roll o’er the heav’n­ly plains,
And se­raphs find em­ploy
For their sub­lim­est strains;
Some new de­light in Heav’n is known,
Loud sound the harps around the throne.

Hark! hark!—the sounds draw nigh,
The joy­ful hosts des­cend;
Jesus for­sakes the sky,
To earth His foot­steps bend;
He comes to bless our fall­en race;
He comes with mes­sag­es of grace.

Bear, bear the tid­ings round;
Let ev­ery mor­tal know
What love in God is found,
What pi­ty He can show;
Ye winds that blow! ye waves that roll!
Bear the glad news from pole to pole.

Strike, strike the harps again,
To great Im­ma­nu­el’s name;
Arise, ye sons of men!
And all His grace pro­claim;
Angels and men! wake ev­ery string
’Tis God the Sav­ior’s praise we sing.