The Cyber Hymnal ‎#6867

6867. To Shepherds as They Watched by Night

1. To shepherds as they watched by night
Appeared a host of angels bright;
Behold the tender Babe, they said,
In yonder lowly manger laid.

2. At Bethlehem, in David’s town,
As Micah did of old make known;
’Tis Jesus Christ, your Lord and King,
Who doth to all salvation bring.

3. Oh, then rejoice that through His Son
God is with sinners now at one;
Made like yourselves of flesh and blood,
Your Brother is the eternal God.

4. What harm can sin and death then do?
The true God now abides with you.
Let hell and Satan rage and chafe,
Christ is your Brother—ye are safe.

5. Not one He will or can forsake
Who Him his confidence doth make.
Let all his wiles the Tempter try,
You may his utmost powers defy.

6. Ye shall and must at last prevail;
God’s own ye are, ye cannot fail.
To God forever sing your praise
With joy and patience all your days.

Text Information

• First Line: To shepherds as they watched by night
• Title: To Shepherds as They Watched by Night
• German Title: Von Himmel kam der Engel Schaar
• Author: Martin Luther (1543)
• Translator (from German): Richard Massie
• Meter: LM
• Language: English
• Source: Geistliche Lieder (Wittenberg, Germany: 1543); translation in Martin Luther's Spiritual Songs, 1854
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: PUER NOBIS NASCITUR
• Harmonizer: George R. Wood­ward (1910)
• Adapter: Mi­chael Prae­tor­i­us (1609)
• Meter: LM
• Incipit: 11234 32115 55671
• Key: D Major
• Source: Tri­er man­u­script, 15th Cen­tu­ry
• Copyright: Public Domain