No moon hung o'er the sleeping earth, <br />But, on their thrones of light, <br />The stars, that sang ere morning's birth, <br />Filled the blue vault of night <br />With heavenly music;-earthly ears <br />Not often catch the hymn; <br />It was 'the music of the spheres,' <br />The song of seraphim. <br /> <br /> <br />But there were those in Judah's land, <br />Who watched, that night, their fold, <br />Who heard the song of the angel band, <br />As o'er them was unrolled <br />The starry glory;-and there came <br />This burst of heavenly song, <br />From mellow tubes and lips of flame, <br />In chorus loud and long. <br /> <br /> <br />'To God be glory!-for, this day, <br />Hath shot, from Judah's stem, <br />A Branch, that ne'er shall know decay:- <br />The royal diadem <br />Shall grace the brows of one, whom ye <br />Shall in a manger find; <br />For, him hath God raised up to be <br />The Saviour of mankind. <br /> <br /> <br />'To God be glory! Peace on earth! <br />Glory to God again! <br />For, with this infant Saviour's birth, <br />There comes good will to men!'- <br />Good will to men! O God, we hail <br />This, of thy law the sum; <br />For, as this shall o'er earth prevail, <br />So shall thy kingdom come.<br /><br />John Pierpont<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/christmas-hymn-4/
