"O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM"

O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM,
HOW STILL WE SEE THEE LIE;
ABOVE THY DEEP AND DREAMLESS SLEEP
THE SILENT STARS GO BY.
YET IN THY DARK STREETS SHINETH
THE EVERLASTING LIGHT;
THE HOPES AND FEARS
OF ALL THE YEARS
ARE MET IN THEE TONIGHT.
FOR CHRIST IS BORN OF MARY,
AND GATHERED ALL ABOVE,
WHILE MORTALS SLEEP, THE ANGELS KEEP
THEIR WATCH OF WONDERING LOVE.
O MORNING STARS, TOGETHER
PROCLAIM THE HOLY BIRTH!
AND PRAISES SING
TO GOD THE KING,
AND PEACE TO MEN ON EARTH.
HOW SILENTLY, HOW SILENTLY,
THE WOND'ROUS GIFT IS GIVEN!
SO GOD IMPARTS TO HUMAN HEARTS
THE BLESSINGS OF HIS HEAVEN.
NO EAR MAY HEAR HIS COMING,
BUT IN THIS WORLD OF SIN,
WHERE MEEK SOULS WILL
RECEIVE HIM STILL,
THE DEAR CHRIST ENTERS IN.

