To a maid engaged to Joseph, the angel Gabriel came.
�Fear not,� the angel told her, �I come to bring good news,
Good news I come to tell you, good news, I say, good news.

�For you are highly favored by the God the Lord of all,
Who even now is with you. You are on earth most blest,
You are most blest, most bless�d, God chose you, you are blest!�

But Mary was most troubled to hear the angel�s word.
What was the angel saying? It troubled her to hear,
To hear the angel�s message, it troubled her to hear.

�Fear not, for God is with you, and you shall bear a child.
His name shall be called Jesus, God�s offspring from on high.
And he shall reign forever, forever reign on high.�

�How shall this be?� said Mary, �I am not yet a wife.�
The angel answered quickly, �The power of the Most High
Will come upon you shortly, your child will be God�s child.�

As Mary heard the angel, she wondered at his words.
�Behold, I am your handmaid,� she said unto her God.
�So be it; I am ready according to your word.�