The Cyber Hymnal ‎#10017

10017. Hark! Hark! What News The Angels Bring

1 Hark! hark! what news the angels bring!
Glad tidings of the newborn King;
The promised Savior of mankind;
Sinners, in Him salvation find.

2 This is the day, and this the morn,
Which hailed the almighty Savior born,
Born of the holy virgin pure,
Born without sin, from guilt secure.

3 Hail blessèd virgin, full of grace!
Blessèd above all mortal race,
Whose blessèd womb brought forth in one,
A God, a Savior, and a Son.

4 Hail! perfect God and perfect Man,
Thy wondrous birth what mind shall scan?
In vain the highest seraph tries
To search Thy love’s deep mysteries.

5 Arise, my soul, and then, my voice,
In hymns of praise early rejoice,
His fame extol and magnify,
Upon these errands angels fly.

6 If angels sang at Jesus’ birth
What cause for holy joy on earth!
For us our feeble flesh He took,
For us the realms of light forsook.

7 Dear Christ, Thou didst Thyself debase,
Thus to descend to human race,
And leave Thy Father’s throne above:
Lord, what could move Thee to this love?

8 Man that was made out of the dust,
He found a paradise at first;
But see the God of Heaven and earth
Laid in a manger at His birth.

9 Surely the manger where He lies
Doth figure out His sacrifice,
And by His birth all men may see
A pattern of humility.

10 Stupendous Child! my God and King!
The wonders of Thy love I’ll sing;
To grateful accents tune my voice,
And, while I live, in Thee rejoice.

11 My soul, learn by Thy Savior’s birth
For to debase thyself on earth,
That I may be exalted high,
To live with Him eternally.

12 I am resolved whilst here I live,
As I’m in duty bound, to give
All glory to the Deity,
One God alone in persons three.

Text Information

• First Line: Hark! hark! what news the angels bring!
• Title: Hark! Hark! What News The Angels Bring
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Source: Christmas Carols, Ancient and Modern by Richard Sandys (London: Richard Beckley, 1833)
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Originally in "Some Ancient Christmas Carols" edited by Davis Gilbert (London: John Nichols & Son, 1822); Davis' version had only four stanzas. Richard Sandys published the expanded version.

Tune Information

• Name: CHURCH TRIUMPHANT
• Composer: James William Elliott (1874)
• Meter: LM
• Key: B♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain