Hark! The Herald Angels Sing - Hymn with Lyrics

1 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 hosts proclaim,
"Christ is born in Bethlehem!"

Refrain:
Hark! the herald angels sing,
"Glory to the newborn King"

2 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 with us in flesh to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel. [Refrain]

3 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 we no more may die,
born to raise us from the earth,
born to give us second birth. [Refrain]

Scripture; Psalm 67:4; 

Isaiah 7:14; 

Jeremiah 33:14-16; Micah 5:2

The hymn "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing" was written in 1739. The lyrics were penned by Charles Wesley, a prominent hymn writer and co-founder of the Methodist movement. Initially, the hymn was published under the title "Hark, How All the Welkin Rings", with a melody composed by Wesley himself.

The hymn's famous tune, however, was adapted by Felix Mendelssohn in 1840, based on a composition from his cantata "Festgesang", written to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the invention of the printing press. It was this arrangement that became the familiar version we sing today, and the lyrics were slightly revised over time as well. The hymn was first sung publicly in 1739, but its enduring popularity grew over the years, especially after the musical changes were made in the 19th century.