Awake, arise good Christians, let nothing you dismay;

Remember Christ our Saviour was born upon this day.

The self-same moon was shining that now is in the sky,

When a holy band of angels came down from God on high;

Came down on clouds of glory, arrayed in shining light,

Unto the shepherd-people who watched their flocks by night.

And through the midnight silence the heavenly hosts began,

“Glory to God in the highest; on earth good-will to man!

“Fear not! we bring good tidings, for on this happy morn,

The promised One—the Saviour, in Bethlehem town was born.”

Up rose the simple shepherds, all with a joyful mind:

“And let us go with speed,” say they, “this holy Child to find.”

Not in a kingly palace the Son of God they found,

But in a lowly manger where oxen fed around.

The glorious King of Heaven, the Lord of all the earth,

In mercy condescended to be of humble birth.

Long looked the simple shepherds with holy wonder stirred,

Then praised God for all things which they had seen and heard,

And homeward went rejoicing upon that Christmas morn,

Declaring unto every one that Jesus Christ was born.

And like unto the shepherds we wander far and near,

And bid you wake, good Christians, the joyful news to hear.

Awake, arise, good Christians, let nothing you dismay,

Remember Christ the Saviour was born upon this day.