I Love to Hear Sweet Voices Sing

I love to hear sweet voic­es sing

That Day of all the best

When ear­li­est in the morn they bring

The news of Christ­mas blest

And far away old ech­oes ring

As bid­ding me to rest!

For then with wak­ing thoughts in­tent

My soul looks up on high

And ming­les mus­ing with re­lent

And fain ’twould see Christ nigh;

Hear for it­self

ere time be spent

Peace from the az­ure sky.

But thou no long­er in our race

By flesh the vir­gin-born

Is known to us

yet Je­sus’ grace

Leaves not His for­lorn;

Since now good Christ­ians see His face

By faith

on Christ­mas morn!

Then come

ye faith­ful

great and small

Come hast­en to the sight

Where Je­sus at our fes­tiv­al

Comes down

the shin­ing Light

To fill all hearts

who hear His call

With glo­ry beam­ing bright!