Scripture Verse

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. Luke 2:14

Introduction

Words: Ano­ny­mous, 14th Cen­tu­ry (In na­ta­li Do­mi­ni). Trans­lat­ed from La­tin to Eng­lish by Ed­ward A. Wash­burn (1819–1881).

Music: In Na­ta­li Do­mi­ni Fried­rich Lay­riz (1808–1859) (🔊 pdf nwc).

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

portrait
Edward A. Washburn (1819–1881)

Lyrics

On the birth­day of the Lord,
Angel choirs, with one ac­cord,
Joyous chant be­fore the throne:
Glory be to God alone!

Refrain

Lo! A vir­gin bore the Son,
Christ she bore, the Ho­ly One,
Virgin ev­er un­de­filed.

Born is our Em­ma­nu­el,
Gabriel did the won­der tell;
Prophet eyes afar ad­ored
Him, the sole-be­got­ten Word.

Refrain

Seraphs bring the glad­some tale,
Shepherds sing o’er hill and vale
Of the bless­èd Sav­ior’s birth,
Sweetest news for all the earth.

Refrain

Hail the day, the hap­py morn;
Hail the Child of Ma­ry born;
Born of God’s o’er­sha­dow­ing might,
God of God, and Light of Light.

Refrain

See! the wise their gifts un­fold,
Incense, myrrh and roy­al gold;
Kneeling to th’eter­nal King,
Glory to our God they sing.

Refrain