Silent Night! Holy Night!

John Freeman Young (verses 1-3), ca. 1859
William C. Egan (verses 4-6), 2007

1. Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child!
Holy Infant, so tender and mild,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

2. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight!
Glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly Hosts sing Alleluia!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!

3. Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light
Radiant beams from Thy Holy Face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!
Jesus, Lord, at Thy Birth!

4. Silent Night, Holy Night
Here at last, healing light
From the heavenly kingdom sent,
Abundant grace for our intent.
Jesus, salvation for all.
Jesus, salvation for all.

5. Silent Night! Holy Night"
Sleeps the world in peace tonight.
God sends his Son to earth below
A Child from whom all blessings flow
Jesus, embraces mankind.
Jesus, embraces mankind.

6. Silent Night, Holy Night
Mindful of mankind's plight
The Lord in Heav'n on high decreed
From earthly woes we would be freed
Jesus, God's promise for peace.
Jesus, God's promise for peace.

Silent Night! Hallowed Night!

J. F. Warner, 1849

1. Silent night! hallowed night!
Land and deep silent sleep;
Softly glitters bright Bethlehem's star.
Beckoning Israel's eye from afar
Where the Saviour is born.

2. Silent night! hallowed night!
On the plain wakes the strain,
Sung by heavenly harbingers bright,
Fraught with tidings of boundless delight
Christ the Saviour has come.

3. Silent night! hallowed night!
Earth awake, silence break,
High your anthems of melody raise,
Heaven and earth in full chorus of praise:
Peace for ever shall reign.

Holy Night! Peaceful Night!

Jane Montgomery Campbell (1817-1878), 1863

1. Holy night! Peaceful night!
All is dark, save the light
Yonder where they sweet vigils keep,
O'er the Babe who in silent sleep,
Rests in heavenly peace.
Rests in Heavenly peace.

2. Silent night! holiest night!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Shepherds hear the angels sing —
"Hallelujah! hail the King!
Jesus Christ is here!"
Jesus Christ is here!

3. Silent night! peaceful night!
Child of heaven! O how bright
Thou didst smile when Thou wast born;
Blessèd was that happy morn,
Full of heavenly joy.
Full of heavenly joy.

4. Silent night! holiest night!
Guiding star, O, lend thy light!
See the eastern wise men bring
Gifts and homage to our King!
Jesus Christ is here!
Jesus Christ is here!

5. Silent night! holiest night!
Wondrous star! O, lend thy light!
With the angels let us sing
Hallelujah to our King!
Jesus Christ is here!
Jesus Christ is here!

Holy Night! Peaceful Night!

Alfred Bell, circa 1869

1. Holy night! peaceful night!
Thro' the darkness beams a light;
Holy night! peaceful night!
Thro' the darkness beams a light,
Thro' the darkness beams a light!
Yonder, where they sweet vigils keep
O'er the Babe, who, in silent sleep;
Rests in heav'nly peace,
Rests in heav'nly peace.

2. Silent night! holiest night!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Silent night! holiest night!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Darkness flies and all is light!
Shepherds hear the angels sing
Alleluia! hail the King!
Jesus the Savior is here,
Jesus the Savior is here."

3. Silent night! peaceful night!
Child of heaven! O how bright
Silent night! peaceful night!
Child of heaven! O how bright
Child of heaven! O how bright
Thou didst smile when Thou wast born;
Blessed was that happy morn,
Full of heavenly joy.
Full of heavenly joy.

4. Silent night! holiest night!
Guiding Star, O lend Thy light!
Silent night! holiest night!
Guiding Star, O lend Thy light!
Guiding Star, O lend Thy light!
See the eastern wise men bring
Gifts and homage to our King!
Jesus the Saviour is here!
Jesus the Saviour is here!

5. Silent night! holiest night!
Wondrous Star, O lend Thy light!
Silent night! holiest night!
Wondrous Star, O lend Thy light!
Wondrous Star, O lend Thy light!
With the angels let us sing
Alleluia to our King!
Jesus our Saviour is here!
Jesus our Saviour is here!

Silent Night, Peaceful Night!

Translator Unknown, ca. 1872

1. Silent night, peaceful night!
All things sleep, shepherds keep
Watch on Bethlehem's silent hill;
And unseen, while all is still,
Angels watch above,
Angels watch above.

2. Bright the star shines afar,
Guiding trav'lers on their way;
Who their gold and incense bring,
Offerings to the promised King,
Child of David's line,
Child of David's line.

3. Light around! joyous sound!
Angel voices wake the air;
"Glory be to God in heav'n;
Peace on earth to you is giv'n,
Jesus the Saviour is come,
Jesus the Saviour is come."

Silent Night, Holiest Night

Rev. Dr. Alfred Edersheim (1825-1889), ca. 1875

1. Silent night, holiest night,
All asleep, lonely light,
Where adoring watch the pair,
Watch, as in His Father's care
     Sleeps the infant Christ.
     Sleeps the infant Christ.

2. Silent night, holiest night,
Shepherds saw angels bright,
Heard from heaven the white-robed throng
Bearing down to earth the song,
     "Christ the Lord is come."
     "Christ the Lord is come."

3. Silent night, holiest night,
Son of God, O how bright
Beams the ray of heavenly grace
In the infant Saviour's face,
     Saviour, born for us.
     Saviour, born for us. 

Still The Night, Holy The Night

Rev. Stopford A. Brooke (1832-1916), ca. 1881

1. Still the night, Holy the night,
Sleeps the world, yet the light
Shines where Mary watches there,
Her child Jesus sweet and fair.
Sleeping in heavenly rest;
Sleeping in heavenly rest.

2. Still the night, Holy the night,
Shepherds first told aright,
How the Angel-Hallelujah,
Rang so loud from near and far;
Jesus, a Saviour, is born;
Jesus, a Saviour, is born.

3. Still the night, Holy the night,
Little child, O how bright
Love is smiling from thy Face!
Now there strikes the hour of grace;
Jesus, our Master, is here;
Jesus, our Master, is here.

Silent Night, Holiest Night!

Charles Timothy Brooks (20 June 1813 - 14 June 1883)

1. Silent night, holiest night!
Moonbeams form silvery light
Hark! The tidings from star to star,
Borne by angels from near and far,
Jesus the Saviour is born!

2. Silent night! Holiest night!
Shepherds first tell the sight!
Spread the tidings o'er hill and plain,
Bethlehem wakes to hear the strain:
Jesus the Saviour is born.

Silent Night! Shadowy Night!

Marie Mason, ca. 1884

1. Silent night! shadowy night !
Purple dome, starry light !
Pouring splendor of centuries down,
Gold and purple, a glorious crown,
Where the manger so rude and wild
Cradles a sleeping child.

2. Silent night ! mystical night !
Kings and seers sought thy light,
Where the watch of the shepherds is kept,
Heavenly hosts through the stillness have swept.
Clear proclaiming a Saviour born !
Singing the Christmas morn !

3. Holy night, — heralding dawn !
Far and near breaks the morn !
Breaks the day when the Saviour of men.
Bringing pardon and healing again,
“Holy, harmless, and undefiled,"
Cometh, a little child ! 

Peaceful Night! All Things Sleep

Edward Thring, ca. 1887

1. Peaceful night! all things sleep,
Holy night! long watch keep
Still and wakeful the thrice bless'd pair.
Holy child with the clustering hair,
Slumber in heavenly peace,
Slumber in heavenly peace.

2. Holy night! stars above
Watch and wind sleepless in love,
O'er his cradle the glad vigils share.
Holy child with the clustering hair,
Slumber in heavenly peace
Slumber in heavenly peace.

3. Peaceful night! glory on high,
Peace on earth angels cry,
Softly listens the wondering air.
Holy child with the clustering hair,
Slumber in heavenly peace,
Slumber in heavenly peace.

Silent Night, Sacred Night

Translator Unknown (earliest pub. 1900)

1. Silent night, sacred night!
Bethlehem sleeps yet what light
Floats around the holy pair:
Songs of Angels fill the air
Strains of heavenly peace,
Strains of heavenly peace.

2. Silent night, holy night!
Shepherds first see the light,
Hear the Alleluias ring
Which the Angel chorus sing
"Christ the Saviour has come,
Christ the Saviour has come!"

3. Silent night, holy night.
Son of God! oh, what light
Radiates from Thy manger bed,
Over realms with darkness spread,
Thou in Bethlehem born.
Thou in Bethlehem born.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Published by Moravian Church, 1902

Verse One: Unknown,
Verse Two: Jane Montgomery Campbell, alt.
Verse Three: John Freeman Young

1. Silent night! Holy night!
Slumber reigns! Naught in sight!
Save that pair who lone vigil keep
O'er the Child Who, in softest sleep,
Rests in heavenly peace,
Rests in heavenly peace.

2. Silent night! Holy night!
Darkness flies! All is light!
Shepherds listen while angels sing
Praise to God and good tidings bring,
“Jesus, the Saviour, is here!”
“Jesus, the Saviour, is here!”

3. Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from Thy holy face
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth.

Silent Night, Holy Night

W. G. Rothery (1858-1930)

1. Silent night, holy night,
Starry skies beaming bright,
Guard the Virgin Mother mild,
Watching o'er the Holy Child,
Sleeping in heavenly grace,
Sleeping in heavenly grace.

2. Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds lone, hail the light,
Hark the wondrous angel throng,
Hail the morn with joyful song:
Christ the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.

3. Silent night, holy night,
God's dear Son, bringeth light,
Saving us all from sin's dark thrall
Giving life and love to all,
Christ the Light of the World,
Christ the Light of the World.

Silent Night, Holiest Night

Paul Gallico, ca. 1967

1.Silent night, holiest night,
Darkness flies, all is light,
Shepherds hear the Angels sing:
Hallelujah, hail the King,
Jesus, the Savior is here
Jesus the Saviour is here!

2. Silent night, holiest night,
Guiding star, lend thy light,
See the Eastern Magi bring,
Gifts and homage to our King,
Jesus, the Saviour is here!
Jesus the Saviour is here.

3. Silent night, holiest night,
Wond'rous star, lend thy light,
With the Angels let us sing,
Hallelujah to the King.
Jesus, our Saviour is here,
Jesus, our Saviour is here!

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Frank Petersohn, ca. 1997

1. Silent night! Holy night!
All's asleep, one sole light,
Just the faithful and holy pair,
Lovely boy-child with curly hair,
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

2. Silent night! Holy night!
God's Son laughs, o how bright.
Love from your holy lips shines clear,
As the dawn of salvation draws near,
Jesus, Lord, with your birth!
Jesus, Lord, with your birth!

3. Silent night! Holy night!
Brought the world peace tonight,
From the heavens' golden height
Shows the grace of His holy might
Jesus, as man on this earth!
Jesus, as man on this earth!

4. Silent night! holy night!
Where today all the might
Of His fatherly love us graced
And then Jesus, as brother embraced.
All the peoples on earth!
All the peoples on earth!\

5. Silent night! Holy night!
Long we hoped that He might,
As our Lord, free us of wrath,
Since times of our fathers He hath
Promised to spare all mankind!
Promised to spare all mankind!

6. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds first see the sight.
Told by angelic Alleluja,
Sounding everywhere, both near and far:
"Christ the Savior is here!"
"Christ the Savior is here!"

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Bettina Klein

1. Silent Night! Holy Night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon godly tender pair.
Holy infant with curly hair,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Silent Night! Holy Night!
Son of God, love's pure light
Radiant beams from thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace,
Jesus, Lord at thy birth
Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

3. Silent Night! Holy Night!
Brought the world gracious light,
Down from heaven's golden height
Comes to us the glorious sight:
Jesus, as one of mankind,
Jesus, as one of mankind.

4. Silent Night! Holy Night!
By his love, by his might
God our Father us has graced,
As a brother gently embraced
Jesus, all nations on earth,
Jesus, all nations on earth.

5. Silent Night! Holy Night!
Long ago, minding our plight
God the world from misery freed,
In the dark age of our fathers decreed:
All the world redeemed,
All the world redeemed.

6. Silent Night! Holy Night!
Shepherds first saw the sight
Of angels singing alleluia
Calling clearly near and far:
Christ, the Saviour is born,
Christ the Saviour is born.

Silent Night, Holy Night

Alexander Krischnig

1. Silent night, holy night!
The world is calm, all is sleeping,
only the noble couple, holy couple
is watching with concern
the holiest child,
the holiest child.

2. Silent night, holy night!
Bells are ringing everywhere,
but only the angels' Halleluja
is announcing the good news:
The Messiah is born!
The Messiah is born!

3. Silent night, holy night!
Son of God, our comfort,
may you bring peace to the world,
and may you reign here:
Jesus, our Redeemer!
Jesus, our Redeemer!

Peaceful Night! Hallowed Night!

Translator Unknown

1. Peaceful night! hallowed night!
All around, sleep profound
Whilst the happy and privileg'd pair
Watch the wonderful infant with care,
Sunk in heav'nly repose,
Sunk in heav'nly repose.

2. Peaceful night! hallowed night!
Shepherds first, tending sheep.
Angels' song with wonder hear,
Sounding loud from far and near,
Jesus the Savior is come!
Jesus the Savior is come.

3. Peaceful night! hallowed night!
Son of God, O what love
Is in every feature protray'd!
Thou to us salvation art made,
Jesus the Savior of man!
Jesus the Savior of man!

Silent Night! Hallow'd Night!

Translator Unknown

1. Silent night! hallow'd night!
Earth is hushed, Heav'n a-light!
Angels throng the starlit air,
Whisp'ring round the Child so fair:
"Sleep, sleep, O Baby King!
Sleep," they softly sing.

2. All is still, Jesus sleeps;
Holy watch Joseph keeps;
Mary bends His Face to see,
Murm'ring low her lullaby;
"Sleep, sleep, my Babe Divine!
Sleep, God's Son and mine!"

3. Blissful night, prophesied;
angel-Hosts glorified,
Wondrous news to shepherds tell!
Heavenly harps their chorus swell!
"Peace!" a Seraph sings,
"Peace the Saviour brings."

4. Gather round, people dear!
Young and old, gather near!
Though are closed those Eyes so sweet,
Lo! His Heart doth watchful beat;
Sleep then, Jesus dear!
Sleep, my heart doth hear!

Still The Night, Holy The Night

Translator Unknown

1. Still the night, Holy the night,
Sleeps the world, hid from sight,
Mary and Joseph in stable bare,
Watch o'er the child, beloved and fair,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Still the night, Holy the night,
Shepherds first saw the light,
Heard resounding clear and strong,
Far and near, the Angels song,
Christ the Redeemer is here,
Christ the Redeemer is here.

3. Still the night, Holy the night,
Son of God, love's pure light,
Love is smiling from thy face,
Strikes for us now the hour of grace,
Saviour since thou art born,
Saviour since thou art born.

1. Silent night, holy night,
Still the earth, lone the light
Where in Bethlehem watch the blest pair.
Curly haired Infant so tender and fair,
Sleep in heavenly peace,
Sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds, hushed, saw the sight,
Heard the angelic Alleluia
Ring, proclaiming from far and near,
Christ the Saviour is here,
Christ the Saviour is here.

3. Silent night, holy night,
Holy Babe, smiles alight,
Radiant, from thy innocent face,
In this saving hour of thy grace,
Christ, our Lord, at thy birth,
Christ, our Lord, at thy birth.

1. Silent night, holy night,
All is dark, save the light
Shining where the mother mild
Watches over the holy child.
Sleep in heavenly peace.
Sleep in heavenly peace.

2. Silent night, holy night,
Shepherds first saw the sight
Heard the angel-song alleluia,
Loud proclaiming near and far;
Christ our Saviour is here,
Christ our Saviour is here.

3. Silent night, holy night,
God's own son, oh how bright
Shines the love in thy holy face,
Shines, the light of redemption and grace
Christ th' incarnate God,
Christ th' incarnate God.

1. Silent night! Holy night!
Heaven is near, earth is bright,
Angels songs are heard above
As the Child of peace and love
Sleeps in Mary’s arms,
Sleeps in Mary’s arms.

2. Silent night! Holy ight!
Skies are clear, stars are bright,
Now the shepherds went their way,
Homage to this Child to pay:
He is Christ the Lord,
He is Christ the Lord.

3. Silent night! Holy night!
Christ is here, all is light,
Shadows of the past are gone
With the advent of the Son,
Born to save us all,
Born to save us all.

Silent Night, Holy Night

1. Silent night! Holy night!
Sleeps the earth, calm and quiet;
Lovely Child, now take thy rest:
On thy mother’s gentle breast
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

2. Silent night! Holy night!
When thou smil’st, love-beams bright
Pierce the darkness all around;
Son of God thy birth doth sound
Our salvation’s hour!
Our salvation’s hour!

3. Silent night! Holy night!
From the heaven’s golden height
Christ descends, the earth to free;
Grace divine! By thee we see
God in human form!
God in human form!

4. Silent night! Holy night!
God above at that sight
So with fatherly love rejoice,
While earth’s peoples, with once voice,
Jesus their brother proclaim!
Jesus their brother proclaim!

5. Silent night! Holy night!
Adam’s sin damned us quite,
But the Son, to set us free
From the Father’s stern decree,
Now in his mercy is born!
Now in his mercy is born!

6. Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds first with delight
Heard the angelic ‘Alleluia!’
Echoing loud, both near and far;
‘Jesus, the Saviour, is here!
Jesus, the Saviour, is here!’

Holy Night

Translator Unknown
Source: Eleanor Smith, et al., eds., The Children's Hymnal (New York: American Book Company, 1918), #85, p. 99.

1. Holy night, Silent night;
All things sleep, Angels bright
Rev'rent watch with Mary mild
O'er the cradle of her child.
Sleep in heav'nly rest.
Sleep in heav'nly rest.

2. Holy night, Silent night;
Shepherds saw Wondrous light,
Waked by angels' glorious strain:
"Peace on earth, Good-will to men;
Christ is born indeed,
Christ is born indeed."

Obligato for Silent Night

Obligato:  (Carol)

Soloist:  'Neath the silent stars a town is sleeping, Shepherds on the hills, their watch are keeping,

Group: (Silent Night) (Holy Night),

Soloist:  Their flocks are safe within the fold, Secure from danger, want, or cold,

Group: (All is calm) (All is bright)

Soloist:   S - i - l - e - n - t, Silent N-i-g-h-t,    H - o - l - y, H o l y  N i g h t

Group:   (Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child)   (Holy Infant, so tender  and mild,)

Soloist:  Sleep in peace, Silent Holy Night, Sleep in peace

Group:  (Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.)  
 

Submitted by: Jean Rowsell, Stille Nacht Museum Arnsdorf, Salzburg Silent Night Museum, Rick Strong and Douglas Anderson.