They were watch­ing on the hill­sides,
For the com­ing day,
With the star­ry folds of night above them spread;
When a glo­ry flashed around them, like a ray,
Thro’ the pear­ly por­tals on them shed.

Refrain

Glory to God in the high­est,
Came float­ing down the air;
Glory to God in the high­est!
Seemed ring­ing ev­ery­where;
Glory, glo­ry, oh child­ren,
Come sing that song again,
Glory to God in the high­est!
Good will and peace to men.

Louder swell the joy­ful an­thems
From the an­gel throng;
Over hill and vale the strains en­chant­ed float;
See the won­der­ing shep­herds list­en­ing to the song,
Trembling, yet re­joic­ing at the sight!

Refrain

Oh, the joy­ful, joy­ful tid­ings!
For to you is born,
Christ the won­drous Sav­ior and the migh­ty King;
Hail, ye wait­ing na­tions, hail the joy­ous morn!
Happy tid­ings now to earth we bring.

Refrain