1. From heaven above to earth I come, To bear good news to every home; Glad tidings of great joy I bring, Whereof I now will say and sing. 2. To you, this night, is born a child Of Mary, chosen Mother mild; This tender child of lowly birth, Shall be the joy of all your earth. 3. 'Tis Christ our God, who far on high Had heard your sad and bitter cry; Himself will your salvation be, Himself from sin will make you free. 4. He brings those blessings long ago Prepared by God for all below; That in his heavenly kingdom blest You may with us forever rest. 5. These are the tokens ye shall mark, The swaddling-clothes and manger dark; There shall ye find the young child laid, By whom the heavens and earth were made. 6. Now let us all, with gladsome cheer, Follow the shepherds, and draw near To see this wondrous gift of God, Who hath his own dear Son bestowed. 7. Give heed, my heart, lift up thine eyes! What is it in yon manger lies? Who is this child, so young and fair? The blessed Christ-child lieth there! 8. Welcome to earth, thou noble guest, Through whom e'en wicked men are blest! Thou com'st to share our misery, What can we render, Lord, to thee! 9. Ah, Lord, who hast created all, How hast thou made thee weak and small, To lie upon the coarse dry grass, The food of humble ox and ass. 10. And were the world ten times as wide, With gold and jewels beautified, It would be far too small to be A little cradle, Lord, for thee. 11. Thy silk and velvet are coarse hay, Thy swaddling bands the mean array, With which even thou, a King so great, Art clad as with a robe of state. 12. Thus hath it pleased thee to make plain The truth to us, poor fools and vain, That this world's honor, wealth and might Are naught and worthless in thy sight. 13. Ah, dearest Jesus, holy child, Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled, Here in my poor heart's inmost shrine, That I may evermore be thine. 14. My heart for very joy doth leap, My lips no more can silence keep, I too must sing, with joyful tongue, That sweetest ancient cradle song:- 15. Glory to God in highest heaven, Who unto man his Son hath given, While angles sing, with pious mirth, A glad New Year to all the earth. 1. Von Himmel hoch da komm ich her, Ich bring' euch gute neue Maehr, Der guten Maehr bring ich so viel, Davon ich sing'n und sagen will. 2. Euch ist ein Kindlein heut' gebor'n Von einer Jungfrau auserkor'n, Ein Kindelein so zart und fein, Das soll eu'r Freund und Wonne sein. 3. Es ist der Herr Christ unser Gott, Der will euch fuehr'n aus aller Noth, Er will eu'r Heiland selber sein, Von allen Suenden machen rein. 4. Er bringt euch alle Selighkeit, Die Gott der Vater hat bereit't, Dass ibr mit uns im Himmelreich Sollt leben nun und ewiglich. 5. So merket nun das Zeichen recht, Die Krippen, Windelein so schlecht; Da sindet ihr das Kind gelegt, Das alle Welt erhaelt und traegt.