The First Noel
Thomas J. Larsson Lyrics

The first Noel the angel did say
The angel proclaimed the good news of the birth of Jesus, known as 'Noel,' for the first time

Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay,
The good news was delivered to a group of humble shepherds, while they were keeping watch over their flocks in the fields

In fields where they lay tending their sheep,
The shepherds were working, taking care of their sheep, when the news was given to them

On a cold winter's night that was so deep.
It was a very cold winter night, and darkness was all around them

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Rejoice! Rejoice! Shout with joy! May this wonderful news fill your hearts with gladness!

Born is the King of Israel.
The Messiah King, who was promised to the people of Israel, has been born

They looked up and saw a star
The shepherds looked up and saw a bright shining star in the sky

Shining in the east, beyond them far,
The star was located in the eastern sky, shining afar off in the distance

And to the earth it gave great light,
The star illuminated the earth brilliantly with its radiance

And so it continued both day and night.
The star shone both day and night, guiding those who sought to find the newborn King

And by the light of that same star
The wise men from a distant land were led to the place where Jesus was born by the light of the same shining star

Three Wise Men came from country far,
Three wise men, guided by the star, traveled from faraway lands to pay homage to the newborn King

To seek for a King was their intent,
The wise men had come to find the King who they believed had been born, as they had seen his star in the sky

And to follow the star wherever it went.
They followed the star to its final resting place, over Bethlehem

Over Bethlehem it took its rest,
The star rested over Bethlehem, shining down upon the place where Jesus was born

And there it did both stop and stay,
The star stopped and remained stationary over the location where the Christ child lay

Right over the place where Jesus lay.
The star was directly over the spot where Jesus lay in the manger

Then did they know assuredly
The wise men were confident that they had found the King they had been searching for

Within that house the King did lie,
The wise men found the Christ child in a humble manger, lying in a stable

One entered it them for to see,
One of the wise men went inside the stable to see the baby Jesus

And found the Babe in poverty.
He found Jesus, the newborn King, in a state of poverty, laid in a lowly manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes

Then entered in those Wise Men three,
All three wise men entered the stable

Full reverently upon the knee,
They knelt humbly before the newborn King

And offered there, in His presence,
They presented their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to Jesus, in His presence

Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.
They offered three symbolic gifts to the newborn King as tribute to His divinity and kingship

Between an ox stall and an ass,
Jesus was born in a stable, surrounded by farm animals such as an ox and an ass

This Child truly there He was,
The newborn King, Jesus Christ, was truly born in that humble stable

For want of clothing they did Him lay
Due to the humble circumstances of His birth, Jesus was laid in a manger with no proper bed or clothing

All in a manger, among the hay.
As there was no other place for Mary and Joseph to stay, the manger was used as a makeshift crib for the baby Jesus

Then let us all with one accord
Let us all unite together with one voice

Sing praises to our heavenly Lord,
Let us sing songs of praise to our Lord in heaven

That hath made Heaven and earth of naught,
Let us give thanks to God, who created the heavens and the earth out of nothing

And with His blood mankind hath bought.
Let us remember that through His sacrifice, Jesus bought our salvation

If we in our time shall do well,
As we live our lives in the present, let us strive to live according to God's will

We shall be free from death and hell,
If we obey God and live a righteous life, we can be saved from death and eternal damnation

For God hath prepared for us all
God has promised us all

A resting place in general.
A place of rest where we can spend eternity with Him.

Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel,
Rejoice! Rejoice! Shout with joy! May this wonderful news fill your hearts with gladness!

Born is the King of Israel.
The Messiah King, who was promised to the people of Israel, has been born