Christians, awake, salute the happy morn Whereon the Saviour of the world was born Rise to adore the mystery of love Which hosts of angels chanted from above With them the joyful tidings first begun Of God incarnate and the Virgin's Son Then to the watchful shepherds it was told Who heard the angelic herald's voice: "Behold, I bring good tidings of a Saviour's birth To you and all the nations upon earth This day hath God fulfilled His promised word; This day is born a Saviour, Christ the Lord." He spake, and straightaway the celestial choir In hymns of joy, unknown before, conspire The praises of redeeming love they sang And heaven's whole orb with alleluias rang God's highest glory was their anthem still Peace upon earth and unto men goodwill To Bethlehem straight the shepherds ran To see the wonder God had wrought for man And found, with Joseph and the blessed Maid Her Son, the Saviour, in a manger laid Amazed, the wondrous story they proclaim The earliest heralds of the Saviour's name Let us, like these good shepherds, them employ Our grateful voices to proclaim the joy Trace we the Babe, who hath retrieved our loss From His poor manger to His bitter cross Treading His steps, assisted by His grace Till man's first heavenly state again takes place Then may we hope, the angelic thrones among To sing, redeemed, a glad triumphal song He that was born upon this joyful day Around us all His glory shall display Saved by His love, incessant we shall sing Of angels and of angel-men the King