Shepherds Watching on the Plain

Shepherds

watch­ing on the plain

Heard a strange

sweet sto­ry

And a glad

an­gel­ic strain

From the choir of glo­ry.

Glory was their theme that morn

Peace on earth

from Heav­en;

For to you a king is born

And a Sav­ior giv­en.

Wise men jour­neyed far to bring—

His bright star es­py­ing—

Presents to the in­fant King

In a man­ger ly­ing.

We

O Sav­ior! too

would bring

Gifts of love un­feig­ning

To our pro­phet

priest and king

Now in glo­ry reign­ing.

Lord

ac­cept our hum­ble praise

From Thy throne low bend­ing;

Hear with gra­cious ear the lays

From our lips as­cend­ing.

Tune our hearts with sweet ac­cord

As we raise our voic­es

Thus to praise the ris­en Lord

In whom earth re­joices.

In His name and through His love

Come we

glad­ly sing­ing

Songs of praise

to float above—

Sweetly up­ward wing­ing.

May we sing these songs of joy

Till earth ties shall sev­er!

Then Thy praise our tongues e­mploy

In the blest for­ev­er.