God rest you merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Saviour
Was born on Christmas Day
To save poor souls from Satan’s power
Which had long time gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy,
O tidings of comfort and joy!
From God that is our Father
The blessed angels came,
Unto some certain shepherds
With tidings of the same:
That there was born in Bethlehem
The Son of God by Name.
‘Go fear not,’ said God’s angels,
‘Let nothing you afright
For there is born in Bethlehem,
Of a pure virgin bright,
One able to advance you
And throw down Satan quite’
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest storms of wind;
And straight they came to Bethlehem
The Son of God to find.
Now when they came to Bethlehem,
Where our sweet Saviour lay,
They found him in a manger,
Where oxen feed on hay;
The blessed Virgin, kneeling down,
Unto the Lord did pray.
With sudden joy and gladness
The shepherds were beguiled,
To see the Babe of Israel
Before his mother mild;
On them with joy and cheerfulness
Rejoice each mother’s child.
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
Like we true loving brethren
Each other to embrace,
For the merry time of Christmas
Is drawing on apace.
God bless the ruler of this house,
And send him long to reign,
And many a merry Christmas
May live to see again
Among your friends and kindred
That live both far and near.