1 It came upon the midnight clear,
The glorious song of old,
From angels bending near the earth,
To touch their harps of gold:
"Peace on the earth, good will to men
From heav'n's all-gracious King."
The world in solemn stillness lay
To hear the angels sing.

Chorus:
Roll on, glad song,
O'er earth's wide realm again,
We'll join the glad refrain
Of "Peace on earth, good will to men!"

2 Still thro' the cloven skies they come
With peaceful wings unfurled,
And still their heav'nly music floats
O'er all the weary world:
Above its sad and lowly plains
They bend on hovering wing,
And ever o'er its Babel sounds
The blessed angels sing. [Chorus]

3 O ye, beneath life's crushing load,
Whose forms are bending low,
Who toil along the climbing way,
With painful steps and slow!
Look now for glad and golden hours
Come swiftly on the wing;
Oh, rest beside the weary road,
And hear the angels sing. [Chorus]

4 For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever circling years
Shall come the time foretold;
When the new heav'n and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world send back the song,
Which now the angels sing. [Chorus]