To a maid en­gaged to Jo­seph,
The an­gel Ga­bri­el came.
Fear not, the an­gel told her,
“I come to bring good news,
Good news I come to tell you,
Good news, I say, good news.

For you are high­ly fa­vored
By the God the Lord of all,
Who ev­en now is with you.
You are on earth most blest,
You are most blest, most bless­èd,
God chose you, you are blest!

But Ma­ry was most trou­bled
To hear the an­gel’s word.
What was the an­gel say­ing?
It trou­bled her to hear,
To hear the an­gel’s mes­sage,
It trou­bled her to hear.

Fear not, for God is with you,
And you shall bear a child.
His name shall be called Je­sus,
God’s off­spring from on high.
And he shall reign for­ev­er,
Forever reign on high.

How shall this be? said Ma­ry,
I am not yet a wife.
The angel an­swered quick­ly,
The pow­er of the Most High
Will come up­on you short­ly,
Your child will be God’s child.

As Ma­ry heard the an­gel,
She won­dered at his words.
Behold, I am your hand­maid,
She said un­to her God.
So be it; I am rea­dy
According to your word.