Its words were first published by Luke Wadding, a late 17th-century poet and bishop of the Catholic Church in Ireland, in a work called Small Garland of Pious and Godly Songs (1684).
Below is a comparison between the text collected by Cecil Sharp in Gloucestershire, that of Ralph Vaughan Williams in Sussex (the version used in his Fantasia and both the David Willcocks and Philip Ledger arrangements).
Now sin depart, behold His grace, Everlasting life comes in its place, And soon we shall its terror see And poor and rich must conquered be.
All out of darkness we have light, Which made the angels sing this night: "Glory to God and peace to men, Now and for evermore, Amen!"
Angels with joy sing in the air, No music may with theirs compare; While prisoners in their chains rejoice To hear the echoes of that voice.
So how on earth can men be sad, When Jesus comes to make us glad; From sin and hell to set us free, And buy for us our liberty?
Angels with Ioy sing in the Ayre To him who can their ruins repaire And prissoners in the Limbs rejoyce To heare the Ecchos of their voice And how on Earth can man be sad The Redeemer is come to make them glad From sin and hell to set them free And buy their libertie.