Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
Sandi Patty & Peabo Bryson Lyrics

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Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"

Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-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

Overall Meaning

The song "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a classic Christmas carol that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The lyrics are filled with joy and wonder as the angels proclaim the arrival of the newborn king. The first verse begins with the angels singing "Glory to the newborn King!" and declaring that through Jesus, God and sinners are reconciled. The second verse describes Jesus as the "everlasting Lord" who has come to dwell with mankind as Emmanuel, which means "God with us." The final verse declares that Jesus is the "Prince of Peace" who brings light and life to all and has come to save humanity from death.

The lyrics of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" are rich with theological meanings and allusions. The carol was written by Charles Wesley in 1739, and the original opening line was "Hark! How all the welkin rings" (welkin meaning sky or heaven), which was later changed to the current version we know today. The melody was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840 for a cantata commemorating the 400th anniversary of Gutenberg's invention of the printing press. The version we sing today with the Ambrosian Singers and The London Symphony Orchestra was arranged by John Rutter in 1988.

Line by Line Meaning

Hark the herald angels sing
Listen to the angels as they sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"
Praise the new King who is born

Peace on earth and mercy mild
May the earth be at peace and merciful

God and sinners reconciled"
God has reconciled with sinners

Joyful, all ye nations rise
All nations should rise in joy

Join the triumph of the skies
Join in the celestial celebration

With the angelic host proclaim:
Proclaim together with the hosts of angels

"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Jesus is born in Bethlehem

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Jesus is adored in the highest heaven

Christ the everlasting Lord!
Jesus is the never-ending Lord

Late in time behold Him come
He comes at a later time

Offspring of a Virgin's womb
He is born from a Virgin's womb

Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
God is hidden in human form

Hail the incarnate Deity
Praise the God in human form

Pleased as man with man to dwell
He is happy to live among people as a human

Jesus, our Emmanuel
Jesus is our God with us

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of peace!
Praise the Prince of Peace born in Heaven

Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Hail the Son of Righteousness

Light and life to all He brings
He brings light and life to all

Ris'n with healing in His wings
He is risen with healing in His abilities

Mild He lays His glory by
He lays His glory softly

Born that man no more may die
He is born so that people won't have to die

Born to raise the sons of earth
He is born to raise the people of the earth

Born to give them second birth
He is born to give them a second life

Hark! The herald angels sing
Listen to the angels as they sing

"Glory to the newborn King!"
Praise the new King who is born

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

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