Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Mahalia Jackson Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
"Glory to the newborn King"
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinner reconciled
Joyful all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
"Glory to the newborn King"
Christ by highest heaven adored
Christ the everlasting Lord
Come desire of nations come
Fix in us thy humble home
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with men to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King"
Hail the heaven born Prince of Peace,
Hail the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild he lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King"
The lyrics of Mahalia Jackson's "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is both celebratory and informative. The message of the song is clear: Jesus has been born in Bethlehem, and his birth heralds peace on earth and the reconciliation of God and sinners. The song is about the triumph of Christianity and the beginning of a new era in the history of the world. The tune of the song is catchy and uplifting, suitable for the joyous occasion of Christmas.
The first stanza declares the good news of the birth of Jesus Christ. The angels sing glory to the newborn King, indicating that they recognize Jesus as the king of kings. The angels proclaim that because of his birth, there is peace on earth, and God and sinners are now reconciled. This message is one of hope and joy and is an affirmation of the Christian faith.
The second stanza expands on the theme of the first stanza. It describes how Christ is adored by the heavens and is an everlasting Lord. It also depicts how Christ, who is God, chose to veil himself in flesh and dwell among men. This is a clear indication of Christ's divinity and his humanity, making him both the Son of God and the Son of man. The final stanza proclaims Christ as the "Prince of Peace" and "Son of Righteousness." It also reveals Christ's mission on earth, which is to give life and light to all, bring healing to the brokenhearted, and to raise men from spiritual death.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Listen! The angels are singing,
"Glory to the new-born King!
They are praising the new-born King with great glory!
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
May peace and mercy reign on earth,
God and sinners reconciled.
God has brought sinners back into a state of harmony with him.
Joyful, all ye nations, rise,
All nations should rise up in joy,
Join the triumph of the skies;
and join the angels who are already celebrating.
With th' angelic host proclaim,
Together with the angels, proclaim
"Christ is born in Bethlehem."
"Christ has been born in Bethlehem."
Christ, by highest heaven adored:
Christ is adored by the highest heaven,
Christ, the everlasting Lord;
Christ is the eternal Lord;
Late in time behold him come,
And now, at the right time, he has come into the world,
Offspring of the favoured one.
The Son of the blessed Mary.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see;
Though he is God, he has come in human form;
Hail, th'incarnate Deity:
Let us hail the one who is both God and man:
Pleased, as man, with men to dwell,
He is happy to live among us as a man,
Jesus, our Emmanuel!
He is Jesus, our God with us!
Hail! the heaven-born
Hail to the one who was born in heaven,
Prince of peace!
the true king who brings peace to the world!
Hail! the Son of Righteousness!
Hail to the one who is full of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
He brings light and life to all of us,
Risen with healing in his wings
He has been resurrected and brings healing with him,
Mild he lays his glory by,
He humbled himself and put aside his glory,
Born that man no more may die:
He was born so that mankind might never die.
Born to raise the son of earth,
He was born to raise humanity,
Born to give them second birth.
And give them a second birth.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
Listen! The angels are singing,
"Glory to the new-born King!"
"They are praising the new-born King with great glory!"
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Downtown Music Publishing, Abkco Music Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Wesley, Felix Mendelssohn
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind