God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen

Verse 1

1. God rest ye merry, gentlemenBeyond Old English for “God keep you in good spirits.”
2. Let nothing you dismayLuke 2:10The angel told them, “Do not be afraid, for look, I am proclaiming to you good news of great joy that will belong to all the people:
3. Remember Christ our SaviorLuke 2:11this very day in David’s city a Savior has been born for you. He is the Messiah, the Lord.
4. Was born on Christmas DayBeyond The Bible gives no date for the birth.
5. To save us all from Satan’s powerActs 26:18to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, and so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’
6. When we were gone astrayIsaiah 53:6Like sheep, all of us have strayed; we have each turned to our own road, and Yahweh has brought down on him the iniquity of us all.

Verse 2

1. In Bethlehem, in JewryMatthew 2:1Once Jesus had been born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the time of King Herod, magi from the east made their way to Jerusalem
2. This blessed babe was bornMatthew 2:1
3. And laid within a mangerLuke 2:7and she bore a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in strips of cloth and laid him down in a manger, since the guest room had no space for them.
4. Upon this blessed morn
5. The which his mother Mary
6. Did nothing take in scornLuke 2:19But Mary held on to all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Verse 3

1. From God our heavenly Father
2. A blessed angel cameLuke 2:9Then an angel of the Lord stood over them, the Lord’s glory shone all around them, and they were struck with great fear.
3. And unto certain shepherdsLuke 2:8There were shepherds in that same area who were staying out in the open country, standing guard over their flock through the night.
4. Brought tidings of the same
5. How that in Bethlehem was bornLuke 2:11
6. The Son of God by nameLuke 1:35The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come over you, and the power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow. That is why the holy child to be born will be called Son of God.

Verse 4

1. “Fear not then,” said the angelLuke 2:10
2. “Let nothing you affright
3. This day is born a SaviorLuke 2:11
4. Of a pure virgin brightLuke 1:27to a virgin promised in marriage to a man called Joseph, who was from the house of David; the virgin was named Mary.
5. To free all those who trust in himHebrews 2:15and set free all those who were held in slavery all their lives by their fear of death.
6. From Satan’s power and might”Hebrews 2:14Since the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared in the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who holds the power of death, that is, the devil,