It came upon the midnight clear That glorious song of old From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold Peace on the earth, goodwill to men From heaven's all-gracious King The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing And ye beneath life's crushing load Whose forms are bending low Who toil along the climbing way With painful steps so slow Look now for glad and golden hours Come swiftly on the wing O rest beside the weary load And hear the angels sing For lo, the days are hastening on By prophets seen of old When well the ever-circling years Shall come the time foretold When the new heaven and earth shall own The Prince of Peace, the King And the whole world sing back the song Which now the angels sing