O little town of bethlehem,

How still we see the 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 to-night.



For christ is born of mary,

And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep, the angels keep

Their watch of wondering 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 wondrous gift is given!

So god imparts to human hearts

The blessings of his heaven.

No ear may hear his coming,

But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive him, still

The dear christ enters in.



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,

And christmas comes once more.



O holy child of bethlehem!

Descend to us, we pray;

Cast out our sin and enter in,

Be born in us to-day.

We hear the christmas angels

The great glad tidings tell;

O come to us, abide with us,

Our lord emmanuel!