Hymns of the Greek Church

tr. Brownlie, 1900

Chapter 8

Δόξα ἐν ὑψίστοις θεῷ

By St. John of Damascus, 780 A.D.

Bethlehem rejoices,
Hark the voices clear,
Singing in the starlight
Nearer and more near.
Unto God be glory,
Peace to men be given,
This His will who dwelleth
In the heights of heaven.

Heaven can not contain Him,
Nor the bounds of earth,
Yet, O Glorious Mystery!
Virgin gives Him birth.
Unto God be glory,
Peace to men be given,
This His will who dwelleth
In the heights of heaven.

Now the light ariseth
In the darkened skies,
Now the proud are humbled
And the lowly rise.
Unto God be glory,
Peace to men be given,
This His will who dwelleth
In the heights of heaven.