History of Hark the Herald Angels Sing

     The original words, penned by Charles Wesley, are found in the 1739 publication, Hymns and Sacred Poems.  The popular versions we use today have been altered, most notably by George Whitefield.  The music was composed by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840 as part of his cantata Festgesang "Vaterland in deinen Gauen" to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg.  The music was adapted by the English musician W. H. Cummings into what we commonly love to sing today.

Hark the Herald Angels Sing

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of a Virgin's womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hymn for Christmas Day (original words)

Hark how all the welkin rings

“Glory to the King of kings,

Peace on earth, and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!”

Joyful all ye nations rise,

Join the triumph of the skies,

Universal nature say

“Christ the Lord is born today!”

Christ, by highest heav’n adored,

Christ, the everlasting Lord,

Late in time behold him come,

Offspring of a virgin’s womb.

Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see,

Hail th’ incarnate deity!

Pleased as man with men t’ appear

Jesus, our Immanuel here!

Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of righteousness!

Light and life to all he brings,

Ris’n with healing in his wings.

Mild he lays his glory by,

Born—that man no more may die,

Born—to raise the sons of earth,

Born—to give them second birth.

Come, desire of nations, come,

Fix in us thy humble home,

Rise, the woman’s conqu’ring seed,

Bruise in us the serpent’s head.

Now display thy saving pow’r,

Ruined nature now restore,

Now in mystic union join

Thine to ours, and ours to thine.

Adam’s likeness, Lord, efface,

Stamp thy image in its place,

Second Adam from above,

Reinstate us in thy love.

Let us thee, though lost, regain,

Thee, the life, the inner man:

O! To all thyself impart,

Formed in each believing heart.