1. When Christ was born in Bethlehem,
’Twas night, but seemed the noon of day;
The stars, whose light
Was pure and bright,
Shone with unwav’ring ray,
shone with unwav’ring ray;
But one, one glorious star,
But one, one glorious star
Guided the eastern magi from afar.
2. Then peace was spread throughout the land;
The lion fed beside the lamb;
And with the kid
To pasture led
The spotted leopard fed,
The spotted leopard fed;
In peace the calf and bear,
In peace the calf and bear,
The wolf and lamb reposed together there.
3. As shepherds watch’d their flocks by night,
An angel brighter than the sun,
Appeared in air,
And gently said,
“Fear not, be not afraid,
Fear not, be not afraid.
For lo! beneath your eyes,
For lo! beneath your eyes,
Earth has become a smiling paradise!”