’Twas the night before Christmas, and up on the hill
Not a creature was stirring, ‘twas peaceful and still:
The people in Bethlehem all fast asleep,
While we, in the fields, kept an eye on our sheep.
Then above us the sky flashed with such a great light
That we fell to our knees in a terrible fright.
For the glory of God shone so brightly around,
And an angel was speaking to us on the ground.
‘Fear not!’ he said kindly, ‘I bring you good news.
Your Saviour is born here – the King of the Jews!
His birth in the city of David tonight,
Will bless the whole world with God’s peace, joy and light.’
‘Christ Jesus the Saviour,’ the angel then said,
‘Is wrapped in some cloth, and a manger his bed.
I give you this sign so you’ll know that it’s true –
This baby is born to be king over you.’
The sky was then filled with a wonderful song.
A great choir of angels, a heavenly throng,
Singing, ‘Glory to God, to the Ancient of Days,’
And the hillside around us now echoed his praise.
‘Come Wonderful Prince of Peace! Counsellor! Friend!
Come Mighty God! Father! Beginning and End!
Now born of a virgin, and born to be king,
Your praise never-ending we gladly will sing!’
Then as quick as they’d come, they were gone from our sight,
And once more there was silence and darkness that night.
We turned to each other, no doubt in our mind,
This Saviour from heaven we needed to find.
So we left our sheep there and we hurried away,
The great God of heaven we’d worship that day.
And just as the angels of glory had said,
We found him asleep there, a manger his bed.
He spoke not a word, but his work had begun.
Mankind needed saving – to earth he had come
To live a life perfect, as one of our race,
Then die on the cross, gladly taking our place.
We worshipped the child then returned to the fold,
Praising God for the things that we’d seen and been told,
Our minds filled with wonder, our hearts with delight,
As we worshipped the Saviour that first Christmas night.
The things that we saw on that first Christmas Eve
Are here in God’s Word, so you too may believe,
And give God the glory, as we did that night:
Our Saviour, Emmanuel, God with us tonight.
