Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
St. Olaf Choir / Jentekor Lyrics
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"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"
"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
The song "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" is a popular Christmas carol that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the hymn, proclaiming the birth of the "newborn King" with "glory" and "peace on earth." The second verse focuses on the divine nature of Christ, describing him as "Christ the everlasting Lord" and "the incarnate Deity," who was born of a virgin and dwelt among humanity as "Jesus, our Emmanuel." The final verse celebrates Christ as the "heav'n-born Prince of peace," who has come to bring light, life, healing, and salvation to all people.
The song was written by Charles Wesley in 1739, with music composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840. However, the lyrics were altered and adapted by various composers and musicians throughout the years, including George Whitefield, William Hayman Cummings, and Mendelssohn himself. Today, the hymn is commonly sung to Mendelssohn's version of the melody, although some sing it to other tunes.
Aside from its musical adaptations, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" has also been subject to controversy due to its original lyrics. Wesley initially wrote the first line as "Hark how all the welkin rings." where welkin means heaven, but was frequently misinterpreted as referring to the sound of the bells ringing. The line was eventually changed to the more familiar, "Hark! The herald angels sing," which better conveys the message of the song.
Line by Line Meaning
Hark the herald angels sing
Listen to the angels as they sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Praise the newly born King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
May there be peace on earth and kindness all around
God and sinners reconciled"
God has united with sinners
Joyful, all ye nations rise
All nations rise up in joy
Join the triumph of the skies
Be a part of the glorious celebration in the sky
With the angelic host proclaim:
Announce with the group of angels
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
The birth of Christ has occurred in Bethlehem
Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ is worshipped by the highest heaven
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Christ is the Lord that lasts forever
Late in time behold Him come
He has arrived in the latter days
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
He is the child of a virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Despite being in flesh, God is still evident
Hail the incarnate Deity
Praise the God who has taken on human form
Pleased as man with man to dwell
He was content to live among humans as a human
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Jesus, our God with us
Hail the heav'n-born Prince of peace!
Praise the Prince of peace born from heaven!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Praise the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
He brings light and life to everyone
Ris'n with healing in His wings
He has risen with the power to heal
Mild He lays His glory by
He humbly sets aside His glory
Born that man no more may die
He was born so that humans may not die anymore
Born to raise the sons of earth
He was born to elevate the people of earth
Born to give them second birth
He was born to give them a chance for a new life
Hark! The herald angels sing
Listen to the angels as they sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"
Praise the newly born King!
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group, Walt Disney Music Company, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: PAUL BATEMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind