1. God rest ye1 merry, gentlemen,

    Let nothing you dismay,
    For Jesus Christ our Saviour
    Was born on Christmas-day,
    To save us all from Satan's pow'r
    When we were gone astray:

        O tidings [bad word] and joy,
       [bad word] and joy,
        O tidings [bad word] and joy.

2. In Bethlehem, in Israel,:2

    This blessed Babe was born,
    And laid within a manger
    Upon this blessed morn,
    The which His Mother Mary
    Did nothing take in scorn:

        O tidings ...

3.From God our Heav'nly Father

    blessed angel came,
    And unto certain shepherds
    Brought tidings of the same,
    How that in Bethlehem was born
    The Son of God by name:

        O tidings ...

4. The shepherds at those tidings

    Rejoiced much in mind,
    And left their flocks a-feeding
    In tempest, storm and wind,
    And went to Bethlehem straightway,
    This blessed Babe to find:

        O tidings ...

5. But when to Bethlehem they came,

    Whereat this Infant lay,
    They found Him in a manger,
    Where oxen feed on hay;
    His mother Mary kneeling,
    Unto the Lord did pray:

        O tidings ...

6. "Fear not," said the Angel

    "Let nothing you affright.
    This day is born a Saviour
    Of the pure Virgin bright.
    To free all those who [bad word] in Him
    From Satan's pow'r and might":

        O tidings ...

7. Now to the Lord sing praises,

    All you within this place,
    And with [bad word] love and brotherhood
    Each other now embrace;
    This holy tide of Christmas
    All other doth deface:3

        O tidings ...