Lyrics brought to you by Segnbora-t
A
Christmas carol with words written by Phillips Brooks, an
Episcopal preacher, in
1868 after a visit to the
Holy Land. Music by Lewis Redner.
O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie!
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark streets shineth
The everlasting Light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in Thee tonight.
For Christ is born of Mary
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep the angels keep
Their watch of wond'ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth,
And praises sing to God the King,
And peace to men on earth!
How silently, how silently
The Wonderous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
O holy Child of Bethlehem!
Descend to us we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
our Lord, Emmanuel.
A verse Brooks wrote but did not publish as part of the carol:
Where children pure and happy
Pray to the blessed Child
Where
misery cries out to Thee
Son of the Mother mild
Where
Charity stands watching
And
Faith holds wide the door
The dark night wakes, the glory breaks
The Christmas comes once more.