English

O Little Town of Bethlehem

Composer
Lewis Henry Redner
Copyright
✓ Public Domain Verified
▶ Sign in to present

Verse 1

O little town of Bethlehem, How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark streets shineth The everlasting Light; The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night.

Verse 2

For Christ is born of Mary, And gathered all above, While mortals sleep, the angels keep Their watch of wondering love. O morning stars, together Proclaim the holy birth, And praises sing to God the King, And peace to men on earth!

Verse 3

How silently, how silently The wondrous gift is given! So God imparts to human hearts The blessings of his heaven. No ear may hear his coming, But in this world of sin, Where meek souls will receive him, still The dear Christ enters in.

Verse 4

O holy Child of Bethlehem, Descend to us, we pray; Cast out our sin, and enter in; Be born in us to-day. We hear the Christmas angels The great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, Our Lord Emmanuel!

Christmas

Public Domain Information

Text
Public Domain
Tune
Not verified (melody not provided)
Verified
October 3, 2026
Verification sources

Public Domain status verified for the listed text/source.

Rights & Sources
Text Rights
Public Domain The Army and Navy Hymnal (1920), hymn no. 35, scan page 62 (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:The_Army_and_Navy_Hymnal.djvu/62). Credit as printed: Phillips Brooks, 1868. Text author: Phillips Brooks (1835–1893; dates from Wikidata Q974734, linked from the Wikisource author page). Published in the United States before 1931 and the author died more than 70 years ago (1893): public domain.
Tune Rights
Not verified — not provided
Translation Rights
Not applicable (original-language text)
Arrangement Rights
No BibleSlide arrangement provided
Recording Rights
No recording provided
Score / sheet music Rights
No sheet music provided

Back to the library