Merry Christmas!

All my heart this night rejoices,

As I hear, far and near, sweetest angel voices;

“Christ is born,” their choirs are singing,

Till the air, everywhere, now their joy is ringing.

For it dawns, the promised morrow

Of His birth, who the earth rescues from her sorrow.

God to wear our form descendeth;

Of His grace to our race here His Son He sendeth.

Come, then, let us hasten yonder;

Here let all, great and small, kneel in awe and wonder,

Love Him Who with love is yearning;

Hail the star that from far bright with hope is burning.

Forth today the Conqueror goeth,

Who the foe, sin and woe, death and hell, o’erthroweth.

God is man, man to deliver;

His dear Son now is one with our blood forever.

Shall we still dread God’s displeasure,

Who, to save, freely gave His most cherished Treasure?

To redeem us, He hath given

His own Son, from the throne of His might in Heaven.

Thee, dear Lord, with heed I’ll cherish;

Live to Thee and with Thee, dying, shall not perish;

But shall dwell with Thee for ever,

Far on high, in the joy that can alter never.

Paul Gerhardt

For all of the verses, go here.