Audio recording: (download wav.file)

  (courtesy Rothe Technologies, Inc.)

Phillips Brooks

O LITTLE town of Bethlehem,

    How still we see thee lie!

Above thy deep and dreamless sleep

   The silent hours go by.

Yet in thy dark street shineth

   The everlasting Light;

The hopes and fears of all the years

   Are met in thee to-night.

O morning stars, together

   Proclaim the holy birth!

And praises sing to God the King,

   And peace to men on earth.

For Christ is born of Mary

   And gathered all above,

While mortals sleep the Angels keep

   Their watch of wondering love.

How silently, how silently,

   The wondrous gift is given!

So God imparts to human hearts

   The blessings of His Heaven.

No ear may hear His coming;

   But in this world of sin,

Where meek souls will receive Him still,

   The dear Christ enters in.

Where children pure and happy

   Pray to the blessed Child,

Where Misery cries out to Thee,

   Son of the Mother mild.

Where Charity stands watching,

   And Faith holds wide the door,

The dark night wakes, the glory breaks,

   And Christmas comes once more.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,

   Descend to us we pray!

Cast out our sin and enter in,

   Be born in us to-day.

We hear the Christmas angels

   The great glad tidings tell;

O, come to us, abide with us,

   O Lord Emmanuel!

Phillips Brooks, Christmas Songs and Easter

Carols (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1903)