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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.

2. O Come Thou Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Dispense the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadows put to flight.

3. O come, Thou Wisdom from on high,
And order all things, far and nigh;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And cause us in her ways to go.

4. O come desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease;
Fill the whole world with heaven's peace.

Chorus:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel!

Lyrics: Latin hymn, 12^th century
Music: 13^th century

Tune: VENI EMMANUEL
Meter: L.M. with Refrain

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Latin hymn from 12^th century
English translation by John M. Neale, 1818–1866

“O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” was originally used in the medieval church liturgy as a series of antiphons—short musical statements that were sung for the week of vesper services just before Christmas Eve. Each of these antiphons greets the anticipated Messiah with one of the titles ascribed Him throughout the Old Testament: Wisdom, Emmanuel, The Lord of Might, The Rod of Jesse, Day Spring, and The Key of David. The haunting modal melody for the verses is also of ancient origin. It is based on one of the earliest forms of sacred music known—the Chant or Plain Song.