The New English Hymnal ‎#19a

19a. Come, thou Redeemer of the earth

1 Come, thou Redeemer of the earth,
And manifest thy virgin-birth:
Let every age adoring fall,
Such birth befits the God of all.

2 Begotten of no human will,
But of the Spirit, thou art still
The Word of God, in flesh arrayed,
The Saviour, now to man displayed.

3 *The virgin womb that burden gained
With virgin honour all unstained,
The banners there of virtue glow,
God in his temple dwells below.

4 *Forth from that chamber goeth he,
That royal home of purity,
A giant in twofold substance one,
Rejoicing now his course to run.

5 *From God the Father he proceeds,
To God the Father back he speeds,
Runs out his course to death and hell,
Returns on God’s high throne to dwell.

6 O equal to thy Father, thou!
Gird on thy fleshly mantle now,
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

7 Thy cradle here shall glitter bright,
And darkness glow with new-born light,
No more shall night extinguish day,
Where love's bright beams their power display.

8 O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee
Eternal praise and glory be,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Spirit, evermore. Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Come, thou Redeemer of the earth
• Latin Title: Veni, Redemptor gentium
• Author: St Ambrose, 340-97
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1986
• Topic: The Christian Year: Christmas; Office Hymn
• Notes: Other translators also; Verses 4 and 5 are based upon the BCP text of Ps. 19 verses 5 and 6

Tune Information

• Name: VENI REDEMPTOR
• Key: e minor
• Source: Mode I
• Copyright: Arr. by permission of Oxford University Press (from "English Hymnal," 1933)