Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Verse 1

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth and mercy mild,
God and sinner reconciled
Joyfuo, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies;
With th' angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem

Hark the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

Verse 2

Christ, by highest heaven adored:
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with man to dwell;
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Repeat Chorus

Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raiser, the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth
Risen with healing in his wings,
Light and life to all he brings,
Hail, the Sun of Righteousness
Hail, the heaven-born Prince of Peace.

Repeat Chorus

Come Desire of nations come,
Fix in us Thy humble home;
Rise, the Woman's conquering Seed;
Bruise in us the Serpent's head,
Adam's likeness now efface:
Stamp thine image in its place;
Second Adam, from above,
Reinstate us in they love.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing
Glory to the Newborn King

This song was written by Charles Wesley, brother of Methodist founder and circuit rider John Wesley. Wesley wrote numerous hymns. This song first appeared in Hymns and Sacred Poems in 1739 under the topic of "Hymns for Christmas Day." The tune that was originally used was different from the tune that's used in this song today. When Wesley wrote this song, he requested slow and solemn music for his lyrics. Then in 1840 Felix Mendelssohn composed a cantata in 1840 to commemorate Johann Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. He changed the tune to this song and today it's sung the way it's written. This hymn was regarded as one of the Great Four Anglican Hymns and published as no. 403 in "The Church Hymn Book." (New York and Chicago, USA, 1872)