O Day-spring, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice,
come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.
(cf. Ps. 106:10)
Wake, awake, the night is dying,
And prophets from old are crying:
Awake, ye children of the light!
Lo, the Dawn shall banish sadness,
The Rising Sun shall bring us gladness
And all the blind shall see aright.
Refrain:
Rejoice, the King is near,
Our praises he will hear, alleluia!
But we must be prepared to see
The Brightness of eternity.
We shall heed the prophets' warning,
And rise to greet the Prince of morning:
His gentle rule shall bring us peace.
Love and mercy are his treasure,
The seas and skies obey his pleasure:
His mighty rule shall never cease.
Refrain:
Rejoice, the King is near,
Our praises he will hear, alleluia!
But we must be prepared to see
The Brightness of eternity.
Let the shadows be forsaken:
The time has come for us to waken,
And to the Day our lives entrust.
Search the sky for heaven's portal:
The clouds shall rain the Light Immortal,
And earth will soon bud forth the Just.
Refrain:
Rejoice, the King is near,
Our praises he will hear, alleluia!
But we must be prepared to see
The Brightness of eternity.
FYI: Ave Maria! The above is a Lutheran hymn often sung during Advent. It was written in German by Philipp Nicolai and first published in 1599. Later, in 1731, Johann Sebastian Bach wrote his Cantata No. 140, titled "Wachet Auf, ruft uns die Stimme," based on this hymn. You can read more here as well as listen to The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra & Choir perform this truly magnificent cantata, which is one of Bach's most well-known works. You can also listen just to the hymn here and elsewhere on YouTube. Rejoice, the King is near!
No comments:
Post a Comment