The full traditional words to O Come All Ye Faithful, verse by verse, with a little of the carol's history.
O come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him,
Born the King of Angels;
Chorus
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord!
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above,
Glory to God, glory in the highest;
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;
Chorus
Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be glory given;
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing;
Chorus
O Come All Ye Faithful began as the Latin hymn Adeste Fideles. The earliest copies are in the hand of John Francis Wade, an English Catholic who lived in France and copied music for a living in the 1740s, and he is usually credited with it.
The English translation was made by Frederick Oakeley, a London priest, in 1841. It is often the processional carol at the start of Christmas services, and the line Yea, Lord, we greet thee is traditionally kept for Christmas morning.
O Come All Ye Faithful is traditional and out of copyright, so the words are free to print and sing at school, at church or at home. For printable sheets, download our free carols and activities pack (PDF).