Words: Latin, twelfth century; translated to English by John M. Neal, 1851; Henry S. Coffin is credited with translating the verses beginning “O come, Thou Wisdom” and “O come, Desire of nations.”
Music: Veni Emmanuel, 15th century processional of French Franciscan nuns; arranged by Thomas Helmore, 1856
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel is the oldest of our hymn selections this year: its lyrics came from various antiphons from as far back as the twelfth century. John Mason Neale translated it from the original Latin to English; Henry S. Coffin is credited with translating the verses beginning “O come, Thou Wisdom” and “O come, Desire of nations.”
The tune, Veni Emmanuel, is from a fifteenth century processional of French Franciscan nuns. Thomas Helmore arranged it for The Hymnal Noted, Part 2, published in 1856.
John Mason Neale (1818-1866) was an English parish priest, a scholar, and a hymnographer. He is best known for his translations and adaptations of ancient and medieval hymns, including Good Christian Men Rejoice and A Great and Mighty Wonder. He also wrote many of his own hymns, including Good King Wenceslas.
Henry Sloane Coffin (1877-1954), an American, served as pastor of the Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church in New York, as well as president of Union Theological Seminary.
Thomas Helmore (1811-1890) was ordained in the Anglican church and served as vice-principal and precentor at St. Mark’s College, Chelsea. In 1846 he was appointed master of the choristers in the Chapel Royal, St. James, where Arthur Sullivan (of Gilbert and Sullivan fame) was one of his pupils.
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Words: Latin, twelfth century; trans. John M. Neal, 1851
Music: Veni Emmanuel, 15th century processional of French Franciscan nuns
Verse 1
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.
Verse 2
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.
Verse 3
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.
Verse 4
O come, Thou Day-spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
Verse 5
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.
Verse 6
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.
Verse 7
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.Verse 8
O come, Desire of nations, bind
All peoples in one heart and mind;
Bid envy, strife, and quarrels cease,
Fill all the world with heaven’s peace.