Scripture Verse

There were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. Luke 2:8–9

Introduction

portrait
Josef Mohr (1792–1848)

Words: Jo­sef Mohr, cir­ca 1816–18 (Stille Nacht). Stan­zas 1 & 3 trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by John F. Young, 1863. Trans­lat­or of stan­zas 2 & 4: ano­ny­mous.

Music: Franz X. Gru­ber, cir­ca 1820 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Franz X. Gruber
(1787–1863)

Lyrics

Silent night, ho­ly night,
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon vir­gin mo­ther and Child.
Holy In­fant, so ten­der and mild,
Sleep in hea­ven­ly peace,
Sleep in hea­ven­ly peace.

Silent night, ho­ly night,
Shepherds quake at the sight;
Glories stream from hea­ven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Al­le­lu­ia!
Christ the Sav­ior is born,
Christ the Sav­ior is born!

Silent night, ho­ly night,
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy ho­ly face
With the dawn of re­deem­ing grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.

Silent night, ho­ly night
Wondrous star, lend thy light;
With the an­gels let us sing,
Alleluia to our king;
Christ the Sav­ior is born,
Christ the Sav­ior is born!

Holy night, peace­ful night!
Through the dark­ness beams a light
There, where they sweet vi­gils keep
O’er the Babe in si­lent sleep;
Resting in hea­ven­ly peace,
Resting in hea­ven­ly peace.

Silent night, ho­li­est night!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Shepherds hear the an­gels sing;
Hallelujah! hail the King!
Jesus, the Sav­ior is here,
Jesus, the Sav­ior is here.

Holiest night, peace­ful night!
Child of hea­ven, O how bright
Thou didst smile when Thou was born;
Blessèd was that hap­py morn,
Full of hea­ven­ly joy,
Full of hea­ven­ly joy.

Holy night! Peace­ful Night!
All is dark, save the light
Yonder where they sweet vi­gil keep
O’er the Babe who in si­lent sleep
Rests in hea­ven­ly peace,
Rests in hea­ven­ly peace.

Holy Night! Peace­ful Night!
Only for shep­herds’ sight
Came blest vi­sions of an­gel throngs,
With their loud al­le­luia songs,
Saying, Christ is come,
Saying, Christ is come.