17 Beautiful Christmas Hymns that will Uplift your Soul (with Free Printable Lyrics)

Christmas is a wonderful season to reflect on our Savior, and to sing beautiful Christmas hymns with the lyrics rich with Scripture. There are many things to enjoy about the Christmas season. We love the lights, the decorations, the nativity scenes, and the Christmas season would not be complete without the wonderful Christmas hymns and Christmas carols that brighten our spirits and uplift our souls.

For the past several years my wonderful sister has bought tickets for me and my husband to the Christmas symphony in our city for my birthday. Hearing my favorite melodies of the holiday season has a magical effect on my heart. The Christmas lights, stunning scenery, and the beautiful music is a wonderful experience to enjoy.

Hearing familiar tunes like Sleigh Ride, and Silver Bells are nice, but the carols that powerfully echo the truth of my Savior are the songs that stir my soul with joy, passion and praise. Even secular musicians and listeners in the audience who don’t yet know Christ as their Savior are surrounded with a harmonious chorus that points to a God who deeply loves them…who loved the world enough to come down as a tiny baby.

God with us.

Wrapped in flesh and swaddling clothes, and later…

wrapped in burial cloths and placed in a tomb–to save humanity.

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel…” (O Come, O Come Emmanuel)

Our Emmanuel has come. He paid our ransom. We are no longer captives to sin and sorrow, but now can have new life in Him. During this holiday season, Christmas songs are played everywhere. In malls and grocery stores. Doctor’s offices and waiting rooms. If the world would stop the hustle and bustle of their daily to-do’s, they would hear His message proclaimed in the airwaves…

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive her king…” (Joy to the World)

You have come, Lord. But have we received you?

The earth is groaning. Pain and sorrow are rampant. Yet this is the season people hear the message of Christ’s love more than any other time of year. The world needs to know that a Savior has come. Events on the evening news are a constant reminder that our world is broken and bleeding.

“Long lay the world, in sin and error pining, till He appeared, and the soul felt it’s worth…” (O Holy Night)

But our Savior has come, and it is marvelous in our eyes. The Prince of all peace has come and rules righteously with all power in his hands.

“Peace on the Earth, good will to men from Heaven’s all-gracious King…” (It Came Upon  Midnight Clear)

God’s promise of salvation and of his second coming gives us hope, peace and great comfort and joy. “Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy!” (God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen)

As you sing these (and many more) Christmas songs this season, it is crucial that we remember these truths all year long. The next time you attend a Christmas concert or stand in the grocery line, will you share Christ’s message of love and salvation to those around you? The world needs to know that he has come–and that he is coming again. Let’s share the good news of our precious Lord this season–in word, in deed, and in song!

Here are 17 of the most beloved Christmas hymns and Christmas carols that have been part of Christmas traditions for generations. May the rich lyrics of these Christmas hymns fill our hearts with joy as we prepare for this glorious season!

You can download a FREE copy of these treasured Christmas hymns at the bottom of this post!

17 Beautiful Christmas Hymns (and their Lyrics)

Silent Night

What a great Christmas hymn! Can you imagine the beauty and stillness of that Holy Night  When our precious savior was born? We can only imagine what the shepherd’s witnessed when they heard the announcement of the angel in the fields, and went to see what good tidings the angel spoke of in Luke 2:10-11.

Lyrics Snippet:

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

Scripture: While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born… Luke 2:6

Away in a Manger

Many of us picture Jesus wrapped in cute swaddling clothes and lying in a comfy, cozy manger with soft hay and animals admiring Jesus with a smile. Many children’s Christmas books often capture this image, but the truth is, Jesus was born in what resembled a cave more than the typical barn image we see in many books.  It wasn’t cute and quaint, but a dirty, filthy place we’re animals lived. How amazing is it that our Savior humbly left his throne in heaven to be placed in a lowly manger! 

Lyrics Snippet:

Away in a manger

No crib for His bed

The little Lord Jesus

Lay down His sweet head

Scripture: And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

This is a Christmas hymn that we all love to sing. What a majestic celebration it must have been as the host of angels announced to the shepherds that Jesuas was born. Was a glorious sight that must have been to behold!

Lyrics Snippet:

Hark! The herald angels sing

Glory to the newborn king

Peace on earth and mercy mild

God and sinners reconciled

Scripture: Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:13-14

O Come, All Ye Faithful

This Christmas hymn joyfully invites all to people to come and see Christ, the newborn king–born in Bethlehem.  If we lived in the time of Jesus’s birth, would we have believed that Jesus was truly the Son of God? Would we have expected him to come as a tiny child? What an exciting time that must have been for Israel! Now today, we can all come and adore Christ, our newborn king! 

Lyrics Snippet:

O come, all ye faithful,

Joyful and triumphant

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem

Scripture: So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child… Luke 2:16-17

It Came Upon a Midnight Clear

I have always enjoyed singing this Christmas hymn in church services growing up.  It is such a great reminder that in the stillness of the night, peace came to her through Christ.

Lyrics Snippet:

“Peace on the earth

Goodwill to men”

From heaven’s gracious King

The world in solemn stillness lay

To hear the angels sing

Scripture: And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. Luke 2:7

Joy to the World!

The Christmas hymn Joy to the World is a favorite of many people all around the world. I love the part of the song that says “let every heart prepare him room”. How have we made room in our hearts for our newborn king? It is sometimes easy to forget the power and the true meaning of Christmas when we spend so much time focusing on the Christmas cookies, hustle and bustle of getting gifts, Christmas decorations, and lights.

Let’s make sure that we make room in our hearts for our wonderful Savior this season!

Lyrics Snippet:

Joy to the world,

The Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare him room

Let heaven and nature sing

Scripture: You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11

O Little Town of Bethlehem

The Hebrew word for Bethlehem means House of Bread. How wonderful is it that Jesus, who later proclaimed himself to be the Bread of Life in John 6:35, was born in the House of Bread! Let’s make sure this Christmas season that we come hungry for more of Jesus, the Bread of Life, and receive our spiritual sustenance and strength from him!

Lyrics Snippet:

Yet in thy dark streets shineth

The everlasting light

The hopes and fears of all the years

Are met in thee tonight

Scripture: So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. Luke 2:74

The First Noel

The Christmas hymn The First Noel is another popular Christmas ham during the holiday season.  The word Noel in French means birth (source). As we focus on the birth of Christ through Christmas, we are reminded of how we are born again through Jesus!

Lyrics Snippet:

Noel, noel noel, noel

Born is the king of Israel 

Scripture: Jesus answered him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” John 3:3

More Christmas Hymns (with Printable Lyrics)

Here is a list of even more Christmas hymns with lyrics that you can download to use in your private devotions, or to sing along with friends and family!

• We Three Kings of Orient Are
• Go, Tell it on the Mountain
• God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen
• I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
• What Child is This?
• Good Christian Men Rejoice
• O Come, O Come Emmanuel
• Angels We Have Heard on High
• Oh Holy Night

Free Printable Christmas Hymns and Lyrics

Download the free Christmas Hymns and lyrics HERE

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