Hymns: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, is a haunting, beautiful song. With or without lyrics the music evokes a sense of longing. It is uncertain when it was written, but it was translated from Latin into English in the mid-1800s by John Mason Neale and Henry Sloane Coffin. I have included a couple of videos after the lyrics. I hope you enjoy.

O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here,
Until the Son of God appear.

(Chorus)
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel

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.

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.

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.