The Book of Praise ‎#148

148. It came upon the midnight clear

1 It came upon a midnight clear,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
“To all the earth good will and peace,
from heaven’s all-gracious King”;
the world in solemn stillness lay
to hear the angels sing.

2 Still through the cloven skies they come
with peaceful wings unfurled,
and still their heavenly 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.

3 But with the woes of sin and strife,
the world has suffered long;
beneath the angel strain have rolled
two thousand years of wrong,
but we, through din of war, hear not
the love-song which they bring.
Oh hush the noise, Oh still the strife
and hear the angels sing.

4 And 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.

5 For lo! the days are hastening on,
by prophets seen of old,
when with the ever-circling years
shall come the time foretold,
when peace shall over all the earth
God's promised splendours fling,
and all the world take up the song,
which now the angels sing.

Text Information

• First Line: It came upon the midnight clear
• Title: It came upon the midnight clear
• Author: Edmund Hamilton Sears, 1810-1876 (alt.)
• Meter: 8 6 8 6 D CMD
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1997
• Scripture:
  Luke 2:8-20
• Topic: Church Year: Christmas; Peace; Prophets; Suffering
• Copyright: Public Domain
• Notes: Alternate tune: NOEL

Tune Information

• Name: CAROL
• Composer: Richard Storrs Willis, 1819-1900
• Meter: 8 6 8 6 D CMD
• Key: B♭ Major
• Copyright: Public Domain