What means this glo­ri­ous ra­di­ance
Across Ju­dea’s plain?
These white winged an­gels sing­ing
In such ex­ult­ant strain?

Refrain

The King of glo­ry com­eth,
Earth’s brok­en hearts to bind,
And God’s sal­va­tion morn­ing
Hath dawned for all man­kind.

What means this won­drous sto­ry
The ho­ly an­gels tell,
Of One who reigned in Hea­ven,
And now on earth would dwell?

Refrain

Why bend these east­ern sag­es
To One of low­ly birth?
What means this heav’n­ly mes­sage
Of love and peace on earth?

Refrain

Ye wan­d’rers in earth’s dark­ness,
On ocean deep and land,
Hail, hail the joy­ful tid­ings,
The morn­ing is at hand.

Refrain