"While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks by Night"
                         by Nahum Tate, 1652-1715
                                 Text From:
                     THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
               (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942)p.89



        1. While shepherds watched their flocks by night,
        All seated on the ground,
        The angel of the Lord came down,
        And glory shone around.
        "Fear not," said he, for mighty dread
        Had seized their troubled minds;
        "Glad tidings of great joy I bring
        To you and all mankind.

        2. "To you, in David's town, this day,
        Is born of David's line
        A Savior, who is Christ the Lord;
        And this shall be the sign:
        The heavenly Babe you there shall find
        To human view displayed,
        All meanly wrapped in swaddling-clothes
        And in a manger laid."

        3. Thus spake the seraph,--and forthwith
        Appeared a shining throng
        Of angels, praising God, and thus
        Addressed their joyful song:
        "All glory be to God on high,
        And to the earth be peace;
        Good will henceforth from Heaven to men
        Begin and never cease."

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #109 from _The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Luke 2:11
        Author: Nahum Tate, 1700
        Composer: Gottfried W. Fink, 1842
        Tune: "Bethlehem"