Hark the Herald Angels Sing Lyrics
(stanzas 1-3)
Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn king;
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled!”
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Refrain: Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Christ, by highest Heav’n adored;
Christ the everlasting Lord;
Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus our Emmanuel,
Refrain: Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by, Born
that we no more may die.
Born to raise us from the earth,
Born to give us second birth.
Refrain: Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
(stanzas 4-5)
Come, Desire of nations, come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display Thy saving power,
Ruined nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to Thine.
Refrain: Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,
Stamp Thine image in its place;
Second Adam from above,
Reinstate us in Thy love.
Let us Thee, though lost, regain,
Thee, the Life, the inner man;
O, to all Thyself impart,
Formed in each believing heart.
Refrain: Hark, the herald angels sing,
“Glory to the newborn King!”
Notes on the Hymn
Liturgical Churches continue to formally celebrate Christmas over a period of about two weeks. Hymns of this season focus on the meaning of the incarnation of God in the infant Jesus. Hark the Herald Angels Sing, by Charles Wesley (1707-1788) is a most joyous and popular hymn for this season. The complete lyrics are listed above, though most modern hymnals contain only stanzas one through three.