1 Ye people, cease from tears,
Your prayers are heard above:
And from His throne in Heav’n appears
The God of peace and love.

2 O’er Bethl’em’s silent plains,
Hark, heav’nly voices sing,
Announcing in triumphant strains
The birthday of our king.

3 The faithful shepherds hear,
And haste the Babe to greet:
Let us like them with joy draw near,
And worship at His feet.

4 But say—oh, strange surprise—
What spectacle is seen:
An Infant in the manger laid,
His parents poor and mean?

5 Say—do we here behold
The Son of God most high,
Who doth within His hand infold
The earth and sea and sky?

6 Faith penetrates the veil,
And through the cloud drawn o’er,
Sees Him whom angels trembling hail,
The God whom they adore.

7 O Babe, Thy birth despised
And lowly manger tell,
To flee from all below that’s prized,
And with the meek to dwell.

8 From sinful shame and pride
Guard us, Thou Child divine:
Then wilt Thou in our hearts abide,
Thy cradle and Thy shrine.