As Jesus Christ lay fast asleep And bedded in a manger, Some simple shepherds left their sheep To find the Heavenly Stranger. The Morning Star that shone so bright On traveling men benighted Their footsteps guided to the place where, kneeling they recited: For joy of the Boy we will sing you this carol, Though gruff are our voices and rough our apparel: God make you right merry this Christmas! Though sheep may be stupid, they know they must follow The shepherded who leads them by hillside and hollow: God make you right merry this Christmas! As Wise Men guided by a star Alighted at that manger, They wondered why they came so far To find so small a stranger; But being wise they thought again, And owned themselves delighted That God was speaking through a child, so, kneeling they recited: Though wise men are foolish, they know they must follow Wherever truth leads them by hillside or hollow: So God make you merry this Christmas! As sign that our sorrows say more than our pleasures, For joy of the Boy we offer these treasures: So God make you merry this Christmas!