O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is truly a hymn for Advent. The earnest desire for the One who would come as Israel's Deliverer is seen in every verse. This longing and hoping, watching and waiting is what the spirit of Advent is all about. Originally written in Latin in the 12th century, this hymn was translated into English by John M. Neale in 1851. Neale originally translated the first line, "Draw nigh, draw nigh, Emmanuel."
O come, O come,
Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely
exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice!
Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.
O
come, thou Wisdom from on high,
who orderest all things
mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her
ways to go. Refrain
O come, thou Rod of
Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell
thy people save,
and give them victory over the grave. Refrain
O
come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer
our spirits by thine advent
here;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
and death's dark
shadows put to flight. Refrain
O come,
thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heavenly home;
make
safe the way that leads on high,
and close the path to misery.
Refrain
O come, O come, great Lord of
might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times
once gave the law
in cloud and majesty and awe. Refrain
O
come, thou Root of Jesse's tree,
an ensign of thy people
be;
before thee rulers silent fall;
all peoples on thy mercy
call. Refrain
O come, Desire of nations,
bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid thou our sad
divisions cease,
and be thyself our King of Peace. Refrain
O
come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns
in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear. Refrain
