This is probably my favorite Christmas carol (not counting “Joy to the World,” since as I noted earlier, it’s not really a Christmas song). There’s no hope of undoing George Whitfield’s edits to Charles Wesley’s text, since they’re embedded even in the common title—but we would still do well to include the verses he cut.
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 th’ angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!”
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.Christ, by highest heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of the virgin’s womb!
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see:
Hail th’ incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel!
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of Righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen 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.Come, desire of nations, come,
Fix in us thy humble home;
Rise, the woman’s conquering seed,
Bruise in us the serpent’s head.
Now display thy saving power,
Ruin’d nature now restore;
Now in mystic union join
Thine to ours, and ours to thine.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.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,
Form’d in each believing heart.
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King.Words: Charles Wesley; alt. George Whitfield, Martin Madan, and William Hayman Cummings
Music: Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, adapted and arranged by William Hayman Cummings
MENDELSSOHN, 7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.7.