God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN7.6.7.6.8.6 with refrain
Words: Traditional English carolMusic: GOD REST YE MERRY GENTLEMEN, Traditional English
Practice player: melody only, played by your browser. The intro is the closing line of the tune, as many churches play it. Melody from the Open Hymnal Project (public domain).
Words
God rest ye merry, gentlemen,
Let nothing you dismay,
Remember Christ our Savior
Was born on Christmas Day;
To save us all from Satan's pow'r
When we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.
In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessèd Babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessèd morn;
The which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn.
From God our heav'nly Father
A blessèd angel came;
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
"Fear not, then," said the angel,
"Let nothing you afright,
This day is born a Savior
Of a pure Virgin bright,
To free all those who trust in Him
From Satan's pow'r and might."
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks afeeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethl'em straightaway
This blessèd Babe to find.
But when to Bethlehem they came
Where our dear Savior lay,
They found Him in a manger
Where oxen feed on hay;
His mother Mary kneeling
Unto the Lord did pray.
Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All others doth deface.
Scripture
The Bible passages this hymn draws on, in the King James Version.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.
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- Angels We Have Heard on HighAngels we have heard on high