John 1:14: "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
Luke 2:1-20: "1 In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all went to be registered, each to his own town. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, 5 to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. 6 And while they were there, the time came for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
"8 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' 13 And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!'
"15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.' 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them."
1 Timothy 2:5-6: "5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time."
Hebrews 2:14-15: "14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery."
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The text is public domain:
A great and mighty wonder,
A full and holy cure:
The virgin bears the infant
With virgin honor pure!
Proclaim the Savior's birth:
"To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!"
The Word becomes incarnate
And yet remains on high,
And cherubim sing anthems
To shepherds from the sky.
Proclaim the Savior's birth:
"To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!"
While thus they sing your Monarch,
Those bright angelic bands,
Rejoice, O vales and mountains,
And oceans, clap your hands.
Proclaim the Savior's birth:
"To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!"
Since all He comes to ransom,
By all be He adored,
The infant born in Bethl'em,
The Savior and the Lord.
Proclaim the Savior's birth:
"To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!"
All idols then shall perish
And Satan's lying cease,
And Christ shall raise His scepter,
Decreeing endless peace.
Proclaim the Savior's birth:
"To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth!"
The beginning of the fourth verse ("Since all He comes to ransom") comes from the 1 Timothy text: "Christ Jesus... gave himself as a ransom for all."
Finally, the Hebrews text, particularly Christ's "destroy[ing] the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil," appears in the fifth verse.
The second half of the third verse ("Rejoice, O vales and mountains, / And oceans, clap your hands.") bears some resemblance to Psalm 98:8: "Let the rivers clap their hands; let the hills sing for joy together." Both are images of creation praising God and - specifically - of a body of water clapping.
