Day Eight : 10th December

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel!

Veni, veni, Emmanuel
Captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exilio.
Privatus Dei Filio.

   Gaude! gaude! Emmanuel
   Nascetur pro te, Israel

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.

Rejoice! rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to you, O Israel.

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
(chorus)

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
(chorus)

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
thine own from Satan's tyranny;
from depths of hell thy people save
and give them victory o'er the grave
(chorus)

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.
(chorus)

Anon, Latin, 18th century or earlier
based on Antiphons from 9th century or earlier.
translated John Mason Neale 1818-66


Veni, veni, Emmanuel
Captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio

   Gaude! gaude! Emanuel
   Nascetur pro te, Israel

Veni, O Jesse Virgula
Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De speco tuos tartari
Educ, et antro barathri

Veni, veni, O Oriens,
Solare nos adveniens;
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.

Veni, Clavis Davidica;
Regna reclude celica;
Fac iter tutum seperum,
Et claude vias inferum.

Veni, veni, Adonai
Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice
In maiestate glorie