Breaking Bread (Vol. 39) ‎#38

38. O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

1 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 you, O Israel!

2 O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
Who ord'rest all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go. [Refrain]

3 O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law,
In cloud and majesty and awe. [Refrain]

4 O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust thy mighty pow'r to save,
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave. [Refrain]

5 O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery. [Refrain]

6 O come, Thou Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadow put to flight. [Refrain]

7 O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of all humankind;
Bid thou our sad divisions cease,
And be for thyself our Prince of Peace. [Refrain]

Text Information

• First Line: O come, O come, Emmanuel
• Title: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
• Translator (vs. 1, 3-6): John Mason Neale, 1818-1866
• Refrain First Line: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
• Meter: LM with refrain
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2019
• Topic: Seasonal Music: Advent
• Source: "O" Antiphons; Latin, 9th cent.; Verses 1, 3-6, para. in Psalteriolum Cantionum Catholicarum, Cologne, 1710); Tr. verses 2, 7: , The Hymnal 1940, alt.

Tune Information

• Name: VENI, VENI EMMANUEL
• Adapter: Thomas Helmore, 1811-1890
• Meter: LM with refrain
• Key: e minor or modal
• Source: Chant, Mode I; Processionale, French, 15th cent.