Verse 1
Ye simple men of heart sincere,
Shepherds who watch your flocks by night,
Start not to see an angel near,
Nor tremble at this[1] glorious light.
Verse 2
An herald from the heavenly King
I come, your every fear to chase;
Good tidings of great joy I bring,
Great joy to all the fallen race!
Verse 3
To you is born on this glad day,
A Saviour by our host ador’d,
Our God in Bethlehem survey,
Make haste to worship Christ the Lord.
Verse 4
By this the[2] Saviour of mankind,
Th’ incarnate God shall be display’d,
The babe ye wrapp’d in swaths[3] shall find,
And humbly in a manger laid.
[1] Wesley changed “this” to “his” in 1762.
[2] Two editions omit “the.”
[3] Wesley changed “swaths” to “swathes” in 1772.