The shining stars unnumbered on Bethlehem looked down; unnumbered, too, the travellers who thronged to David's town; no place to rest, no room to spare, but what the ox and ass may share for Mary's son so tender; she laid him in a manger there, the crown of heaven's splendour! While earth lies hushed and sleeping nor dreams of Jesus' birth, hushed deep in new-born slumbers lies he who made the earth; and from that stable through the night there shines a lantern burning bright, a sign for mortals' seeing, that Christ is come, the Light of light, the Lord of all our being! A sound of angels singing the watching shepherds heard; our songs of praise are bringing anew the promised word; so let all hearts be joyful when we hear what angels carolled then and tell the Christmas story, of peace on earth, goodwill to men, through Christ the King of glory!