It came upon the midnight clear

IT CAME UPON THE MIDNIGHT CLEAR,
that glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their harps of gold:
‘Through 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 With sorrow brought by sin and strife
the world has suffered long
and, since the angels sang, have passed
two thousand years of wrong:
the nations, still at war, hear not
the love-song which they bring:
O hush the noise and cease the strife,
to hear the angels sing!

3 And those beneath life’s crushing load,
whose hope is burning low,
who toil along the climbing way
with painful steps and slow-
look up! for songs of joy and peace
through all the heavens ring!
O rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing!

4 And still the days are hastening on—
by prophets seen of old—
towards the fulness of the time
when comes the age foretold:
then earth and heaven renewed shall see
the Prince of peace, their King;
and all the world repeat the song
which now the angels sing.