From heav'n above to earth I come    

1) From Heav'n above to Earth I come
To bear good news to ev'ry home;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
Whereof I will now say and sing:

2) To you this night is born a child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This little child of lowly birth
Shall be the joy of all the Earth.

3) ’Tis Christ our God, who far on high
Hath heard your sad and bitter cry;
Himself will your salvation be;
Himself from sin will make you free.

4) He brings those blessings, long ago
Prepared by God for all below;
Henceforth his kindgom open stands
To you, as to the angel bands.

5) These are the tokens ye shall mark:
The swaddling clothes and manger dark;
There shall ye find the young child laid,
By whom the heav’ns and earth were made.

6) Now let us all with gladsome cheer
Follow the shepherds and draw near
To see this wondrous gift of God
Who hath his only Son bestowed.

7) Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes!
Who is it in yon manger lies?
Who is this child, so young and fair?
The blessèd Christ child lieth there.

8) Welcome to Earth, thou noble guest,
Through whom e’en wicked men are blest!
Thou com’st to share our misery.
What can we render, Lord, to thee?

9) Were Earth a thousand times as fair,
Beset with gold and jewels rare,
She were yet far too poor to be
A narrow cradle, Lord, for thee.

10) Ah! dearest Jesus, holy child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for thee.

11) My heart for very joy doth leap,
My lips no more can silence keep;
I too must raise with joyful tongue
That sweetest, ancient cradle song:

12) Glory to God in highest Heav’n,
Who unto us his Son hath giv’n!
While angels sing with pious mirth
A glad new song to all the Earth.

Alternativer Text

1) From Heaven above to earth I come,
To bring good news to every one;
Glad tidings of great joy I bring,
To all the world and gladly sing.

2) To you, this night, is born a Child
Of Mary, chosen mother mild;
This newborn Child, of lowly birth,
Shall be the joy of all your earth.

3) This is the Christ, God' Son most high,
Who hears your sad and bitter cry;
He will himself your Savior be
And from all sin will set you free.

4) The blessing which the Father planned
The Son holds in his infant hand,
That in his kingdom, bright and fair,
You may with us his glory share.

5) Theses are the signs which you will see
To let you know that it is he:
In manger-bed, in swaddling clothes
The child who all the earth upholds.

6) How glad we'll be to find it so!
Then with the shepherds let us go
To see what God for us has done
In sending us his own dear Son.

7) Look, look, dear friends, look over there!
What lies within that manger bare?
Who is that lovely little one!
The baby Jesus, God's dear Son.

8) Welcome to earth, O noble Guest,
Through whom this sinful world is blest!
You turned not from our needs away!
How can our thanks such love repay?

9) O Lord, you have created all!
How did you come to be so small,
To sweetly sleep in manger-bed
Where lowing cattle lately fed?

10) Were earth a thousand times as fair,
And set with gold and jewels rare,
Still such a cradle would not do
To rock a prince so great as you..

11) For velvets soft and silken stuff
You have but hay and straw so rough
On which as king so rich and great
To be enthroned in humble state.

12) Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Prepare a bed, soft, undefiled,
A holy shrine, within my heart,
That you and I need never part.

13) My heart for very joy now leaps,
My voice no longer silence keeps;
I too must join the angel-throng
To sing with joy his creadle-song:

14) "Glory to God in highest Heaven,
Who unto us his Son has giv'n."
With angels sing in pious mirth:
A glad new year to all the earth!