The Bethlehem Song

How sweet was the song

Of the an­gels of light

As

bend­ing o’er Beth­le­hem’s plain

They struck their bright harps

And the si­lence of night

Awoke at the heav­en­ly strain;

While mild­ly around

Shone the glo­ry di­vine

And bathed in ef­ful­gence so bright

The mount­ain

the val­ley

The sea

and the plain

Once robed in the man­tle of night.

They sang of the break

Of re­demp­tion’s glad morn

The ho­ly had longed to be­hold;

They sang of a Sav­ior

In Beth­le­hem born

So long by the pro­phets fore­told;

They sang of good-will

From our God un­to men

Of peace to a val­ley of tears;

They sang of sal­va­tion

From death and from sin

A balm for our sor­rows and fears.

Then Glory to God

In the high­est! I’ll sing

For I am a sin­ner on earth;

I’ll wel­come the tid­ings

Of mer­cy that bring

The news of Em­ma­nu­el’s birth;

I’ll go to His cross

Though a sin­ner de­filed

And wash in the fount­ain of blood;

I’ll pray for the grace

That can strength­en a child

And bring him at last to his God.