Sunday Hymn

One of my favorite advent hymns is O come, O come, Emmanuel. I love the Gregorian chant style and the words are so plaintive, begging Jesus to come. While the verses have a melancholy feel, I can't help but experience the joy in the refrain.


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
hereuntil the Son of God appear.

Refrain

Sunday Hymn

http://atmyhearth.blogspot.com/2006/12/sunday-hymn.html