While shep-herds watched their flocks by night, 
All seat-ed on the ground,
The an-gel of the Lord came down,
And glo-ry shone a-round. 

"Fear not," said he, for might-y dread
Had seized their toub-led mind;
"Glad ti-dings of great joy I bring 
To you and all man-kind.

To you in Da-vid's town this day
Is born of Da-vid's line
A sa-vior, who is Christ the Lord;
And this shall be the sign:

"The heav'nly babe you there shall find
To human view dis-played,
All meanly wrapped in swathing gands,
And in a manger laid."

Thus spake the seraph, and forthwith
Appeared a shin-ing throng
Of angels prais-ing God, who they
Addressed their joyful song: 

"All glory be to God on high,
And on the earth be peace;
Goodwill henceforth from heav'n to men
Begin and ne-ver cease."