O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

Twelfth Century French Missal

"Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel." Isaiah 7:14
"Emmanuel" means "God is with us." The words for this advent song are ancient, probably created in the 12th Century. It was sung in Latin by monks starting on December 17th and a new verse was sung each night until the 23rd. To hear the music for this hymn click on the button. Choose Traditional #16. Then click on this page. The refrain is in italics.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appears

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel

O come, thou rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of hell thy people save
And give them vict'ry o'er the grave

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel

O come, O Dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here
And drive away the shaves of night
And pierce the clouds and bring us light

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel

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

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might
Who to thy tribes, on Sinai's height
In ancient times did'st give the law
In cloud and majesty and awe

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee O Israel






Thank-you to J. S. Magic for the graphics