Advent: Songs of Longing and Hope
O Come, O Come Immanuel,
and ransom captive Israel
that mourns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Refrain:
Rejoice! Rejoice! Immanuel
shall come to you, O Israel.
O Come, O Wisdom from
on high,
who ordered all things mightily;
to us the path of knowledge show
and teach us in its ways to go.
O Come, O Come,
Great Lord of Might
who to your tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law
in cloud and majesty and awe.
O Come, O Branch
of Jesse's stem,
unto your own and rescue them!
From depths of hell your people save,
and give them victory o'er the grave.
O Come, O Key of David, Come,
and open wide our heavenly home.
Make safe for us the heavenward road
and bar the way to death's abode.
O Come, O Bright and Morning Star,
and bring us comfort from afar!
Dispel the shadows of the night
and turn our darkness into light.
O Come, O King of Nations,
bind in one the hearts of all mankind.
Bid all our sad divisions cease
and be yourself our King of Peace.