Softly the Night Is Sleeping

Softly the night is sleeping on Bethlehem's peaceful hill

Author: E. A. Washburn (1881)
Published in 19 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, Noteworthy Composer
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 Softly the night is sleeping
on Bethlehem's peaceful hill;
silent the shepherds watching,
the gentle flocks are still.
But hark! The wondrous music
falls from the op'ning sky;
valley and cliff re-echo, "Glory to God on high!"

Refrain:
Glory to God! Glory to God!
Glory to God!
It rings again; peace on the earth!
Goodwill to men!

2 Day in the east is breaking;
day o'er the crimsoned earth;
now the glad world is waking,
glad in the Savior's birth!
See where the clear star bendeth
over the manger blessed;
see where the infant Jesus
smiles upon Mary's breast! [Refrain]

3 Come with the gladsome shepherds,
quick hast'ning from the fold;
come with the wise men, pouring
incense and myrrh and gold.
Come to him, poor and lowly,
around the cradle throne,
come with your hearts of sunshine,
and sing the angels' song. [Refrain]


Source: Moravian Book of Worship #284

Author: E. A. Washburn

Washburn, Edward Abiel, D.D., was born April 16, 1819; graduated at Harvard, 1838; studied theology at Andover and New Haven, and entered the Congregational ministry. In 1844, having been ordained in the Protestant Episcopal Church, he became Rector of St. Paul's, Newburyport, Mass., where he remained till 1851. Spending 1851-52 in Europe, on his return he became Rector of St. John's, Hartford, 1853-62, and Professor of Church Polity in Berkeley Divinity School, Middletown, Connecticut; also Rector of St. Mark's, Philadelphia, 1862-65; and Calvary, New York, 1865-81. He died Feb. 2, 1881. His works include Social Law of God, 1874, and translations of Latin hymns. A selection from his poems was published in New York in 1881. Some of his t… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Softly the night is sleeping on Bethlehem's peaceful hill
Title: Softly the Night Is Sleeping
Author: E. A. Washburn (1881)
Meter: 7.6.7.6 D with refrain
Language: English
Refrain First Line: Glory to God! it rings again
Copyright: Public Domain

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Moravian Book of Worship #284

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The Cyber Hymnal #9045

Include 17 pre-1979 instances
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