Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Luke 2:14, the words of the angels announcing Christ's birth, is where this comes from.  And it predates the Vulgate, which does not use the word excelsis, but rather altissimis!

Linus recites the King James version in A Charlie Brown Christmas.  This is not a good translation of this verse.  Douay-Rheims has it right:  Glory to God in the highest; and on earth peace to men of good will.

Greek NT:  δοξα εν υψιστοις θεω και επι γης ειρηνη εν ανθρωποις ευδοκια

δοξα -->doxology

ειρηνη -->Irene  (peace)

ανθρωποις-->anthropology.  ανθρωποις ευδοκια - men of good will (good intentions).

Vulgate:  Gloria in altissimis Deo, et in terra pax hominibus bonæ voluntatis.

This word ευδοκια is used in Psalm 50(Vulgate)/51(Septuagint):  Different Bibles mess up the verse numbers, too.  Let's use 19-20:

50:19 θυσια τω θεω πνευμα συντετριμμενον καρδιαν συντετριμμενην και τεταπεινωμενην ο θεος ουκ εξουθενωσει 50:20 αγαθυνον κυριε εν τη ευδοκια σου την σιων και οικοδομηθητω τα τειχη ιερουσαλημ 

50:19 A sacrifice to God is an afflicted spirit: a contrite and humbled heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 50:20 Deal favourably, O Lord, in thy good will with Sion; that the walls of Jerusalem may be built up.  (D-R)

50:19 Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus ; cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies. 50:20 Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion, ut ædificentur muri Jerusalem. 

 Merry Christmas!

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