O little town of Bethlehem

Words: P Brooks
Music: FOREST GREEN (English Traditional)
Arrangement: Norman Warren, David Iliff (with descant)
Metre: 8 6 8 6 7 6 8 6
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Bible References
Luke 2:6

1. O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see you lie!
Above your deep and dreamless sleep the silent stars go by:
yet in your dark streets shining is everlasting light;
the hopes and fears of all the years are met in you tonight.

2. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth,
and praises sing to God the King, and peace to all the earth.
For Christ is born of Mary; and, gathered all above,
while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wondering love.

3. 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.

4. O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today!
We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell -
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel.

Phillips Brooks (1835-1893)

[The text is an updated Jubilate text, but as the changes are small it is public domain]