God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
This Carol was 1st published in 1833. It's also called, "God Rest You Merry Gentlemen"
God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
Christmas Carol
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 power
When we were gone astray.
(Chorus)
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy;
O tidings of comfort and joy.
In Bethlehem, in Israel,
This blessed Babe was born,
And laid within a manger
Upon this blessed morn;
The which His mother Mary
Did nothing take in scorn.
(Chorus)
From God our heavenly Father
A blessed angel came;
And unto certain shepherds
Brought tidings of the same;
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by name.
(Chorus)
"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 power and might."
(Chorus)
The shepherds at those tidings
Rejoiced much in mind,
And left their flocks a-feeding
In tempest, storm and wind,
And went to Bethlehem straightaway
The son of God to find.
(Chorus)
And 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 down
Unto the Lord did pray.
(Chorus)
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.
(Chorus)
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Images: Adoration of the Shepherds, Georges de la Tour, France, ca. 1644.
