1
God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay! for Jesus Christ our saviour was born on Christmas Day, to save us all from Satan's power when we had gone astray: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!
2
At Bethlehem in Judah the holy babe was born; they laid him in a manger on this most happy morn, at which his mother Mary did neither fear nor scorn: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!
3
From God our heavenly Father a holy angel came; the shepherds saw the glory and heard the voice proclaim that Christ was born in Bethlehem and Jesus is his name: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!
4
Fear not, then said the angel, let nothing cause you fright; to you is born a saviour in David's town tonight, to free all those who trust in him from Satan's power and might: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!
5
The shepherds at these tidings rejoiced in heart and mind, and on the darkened hillside they left their flocks behind, and went to Bethlehem straightway this holy child to find: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!
6
And when to Bethlehem they came where Christ the infant lay; they found him in a manger where oxen fed on hay, and there beside her newborn child his mother knelt to pray: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!
7
Now to the Lord sing praises, all people in this place! with Christian love and fellowship each other now embrace, and let this Christmas festival all bitterness displace: O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!