Hark, what mean those holy voices
General information
Lyricist is John Cawood.
Settings by composers
- Dudley Buck SATB (vv. 1-2,4-5 only, replacing first two lines of v. 2 with Cherubs, tell the wondrous story, joyous Seraphim reply).
- Arthur Sullivan SATB
Text and translations
English text
1 Hark! what mean those holy voices,
sweetly sounding through the skies?
Lo! the angelic host rejoices
heavenly alleluias rise.
2 Listen to the wondrous story,
which they chant in hymns of joy;
"Glory in the highest, glory!
Glory be to God most high!
3 "Peace on earth, good will from heaven,
reaching to earth's utmost bound;
man redeemed, his sins forgiven,
loud our golden harps shall sound.
4 "Christ is born, the great Anointed;
heaven and earth his praises sing:
O receive whom God appointed,
for your Prophet, Priest and King.
5 "Hasten, mortals to adore him;
learn his Name to magnify,
till in heaven you sing before him
Glory be to God most high!"
6 Let us learn the wondrous story
of our great Redeemer's birth;
spread the brightness of his glory
till it cover all the earth.