irish i may

Sunday, December 26, 2010

25 Poems of Christmas: December 26

Merry Second Day of Christmas! For today the lyrics to one of my favorite Christmas hymns, written by Charles Wesley whose Birthday is just a day after mine! He wrote another version of this same poem which you can read here if you are curious.  Year after year we sing this at Midnight Mass and that last verse still chokes me up.



For Christmas Day: Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

BY CHARLES WESLEY
Hark! the herald Angels sing,
Glory to the new-born King,
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinner reconcil’d.
      Hark! the herald Angels sing,
      Glory to the new-born King.


Joyful all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies,
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.
      Hark! the herald Angels sing,
      Glory to the new-born King.


Christ by highest Heaven ador’d,
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin’s womb.
      Hark! the herald Angels sing,
      Glory to the new-born King.


Veiled in flesh the Godhead see,
Hail, the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as Man with man to dwell,
Jesus our Immanuel!
      Hark! the herald Angels sing,
      Glory to the new-born King.


Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
      Hark! the herald Angels sing,
      Glory to the new-born King.


Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
      Hark! the herald Angels sing,
      Glory to the new-born King.

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