

              "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"
        ______________________________________________________________
        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
           by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may
         freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any
            comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the
              Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

          Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA
            Phone: (219) 452-2148              Fax: (219) 452-2126
        ______________________________________________________________
