Christians, awake, salute the happy morn Whereon the Savior of the world was born; Rise to adore the mystery of love, Which hosts of angels chanted from above; With them the joyful tidings first begun Of God incarnate and the virgin’s Son.
Then to the watchful shepherds it was told, Who heard th’ angelic herald’s voice, “Behold, I bring good tidings of a Savior’s birth To you and all the nations of the earth; This day hath God fulfilled His promised Word; This day is born a Savior, Christ the Lord.”
He spoke, and straightway the celestial choir In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire; The praises of redeeming love they sang, And heav’n’s whole orb with alleluias rang; God’s highest glory was their anthem still, Peace on the earth, and unto men good will.
To Bethlehem the happy shepherds sought, To see the wonder God for us had wrought, And found, with Joseph and the blessed maid, Her Son, the Savior, in a manger laid; Amazed, the wondrous story they proclaim, The earliest heralds of the Savior’s name.
Let us, like these good shepherds, then employ Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy; Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss, From His poor manger to His bitter cross, Tread in His steps, assisted by His grace, Till our first heav’nly state again takes place.
Then may we hope, th’ angelic hosts among, To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song; He that was born upon this joyful day Around us all His glory shall display; Saved by His love, incessantly we sing Eternal praise to heav’n’s almighty King.
