Words: St. Germanus, 734
translated from Greek to English by John M. Neale, 1862
Music: Es Ist Ein Ros’, Alte Catholische Geistliche Kirchengesäng
A great and mighty wonder
Our Christmas festal brings:
On earth a lowly infant,
Behold the King of kings!
The Word is made incarnate,
Descending from on high;
And cherubim sing anthems
To shepherds from the sky.
And we with them, triumphant,
Repeat the hymn again:
“To God on high be glory,
And peace on earth to men!”
While thus they sing your Monarch,
Those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, ye vales and mountains!
Ye oceans, clap your hands!
Since all He comes to ransom,
By all be He adored;
The Infant born in Bethlehem,
The Savior and the Lord!
And idol forms shall perish,
And error shall decay,
And Christ shall wield His scepter,
Our Lord and God for aye.