The Cyber Hymnal ‎#8660

8660. The First Christmas Night

1 There was silence in Bethlehem’s fields that night,
Where the shepherds were keeping their sheep;
And the stars calmly shone from their beautiful height,
While the flocks on the hills lay asleep;
Lo, the quiet that fell
In that holy, mysterious hour
Spoke of promise fulfilled, and of hope now revived
That for years had been robbed of her power.

2 How dreary the ages of strife passed away,
Since this marvelous night was foretold;
How still the deep quiet that reigns ere the day,
And the midnight so lonely and cold.
Love descended to earth,
Where sheep on the hills lay asleep;
Then an angel spoke out of the wonderful birth—
That we no more need sorrow or weep.

3 Then suddenly came to the angel most bright
All the host of the heavenly choir,
And a glory broke forth far more dazzling to sight
Than the sun in its bright noonday fire;
Now the silence is o’er,
The promise no longer deferred,
The angels sang out, and the shepherds looked up:
Good tidings from Heaven they heard.

Text Information

• First Line: There was silence in Bethlehem’s fields that night
• Title: The First Christmas Night
• Author: William C. Dix (1871)
• Adapter: Richard W. Adams (2019)
• Language: English
• Source: A Vision of All Saints (London: John Hodges, 1871)
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: [There was silence in Bethlehem’s fields that night]
• Composer: Willilam Gustin Cooper (1889)
• Key: A♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain