While shepherds watched their flocks by night
all seated on the ground
an angel of the Lord came down
and glory shone around
Fear not, said he for mighty dread
had seized their troubled mind
glad tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind
To you, in David's town, this day
is born of David's line
a Savior, who is Christ the Lord;
and this shall be the sign:
The heavenly babe you there shall find
to human view displayed
all simply wrapped in swaddling clothes
and in a manger laid
Thus spoke the angel. Suddenly
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God, who thus
addressed their joyful song
All glory be to God on high
and to the earth be peace
to those on whom his favor rests
goodwill shall never cease
By Nahum Tate, Irish hymnist, lyricist and England’s Poet Laureate.
The song first first appeared in Tate and Nicholas Brady’s 1700 supplement
to their New Version of the Psalms of David of 1696.