Classic Poem

O Come, Eternal Wisdom

O Sapientia.

O COME , Eternal Wisdom,
 Thou Word of God Most High,
Thou Alpha and Omega,
 Thou First and Last, draw nigh:
 With power and loving skill,
All things alone upholding,
Thy Gospel now unfolding,
 Teach us Thy sacred will.

O Adonai.

O come, L ORD God of Israel,
 Who Moses didst illume,
And in the Bush on Horeb
 Didst burn yet not consume:
 Though Sinai's trump ring clear,
O cease its deadly pealing;
Thy Mercy now revealing,
 Let Grace and Truth appear.

O Radix Jesse.

O come, Thou Root of Jesse,
 Thou Bright and Morning Star,
Who standest for an ensign
 To people from afar:
 Their kings in silent awe
Shall bow themselves before Thee,
And Gentiles shall adore Thee,—
 Thy love shall be their law.

O Clavis David.

O come, Thou Key of David,
 Hell shall its conqueror know;
The pit where is no water
 Shall let Thy prisoners go:
 The gates of brass give way,
Their bars are burst in sunder,
And new-born hosts, in wonder,
 Come forth to glorious day.

O Oriens.

O come, Thou shining Orient,
 Eternal L IGHT unborn,
Let those that sit in darkness
 Behold Thy rising morn:
 Deep shades of death and night
By Thy bright beams are parted,—
The blind and broken-hearted
 Leap into life and light.

O Rex Gentium.

O come, Thou King of Gentiles,
 King David's royal Son,—
Thou Headstone of the corner,
 Of twain thus making One;—
 Thy Hand our being gave,
Our race with life supplying;
That race, now fall'n and dying,
 O come, redeem and save!

O Emmanuel.

O come, Thou great Immanuel,
 And reign in every heart;
Desire of all the nations,
 And hope of all Thou art:
 Our Saviour and our King,
Thy power no longer hiding,
But “God with us” abiding,
 Thy full salvation bring.

O Virgo Virginum.

O Son of Mary Virgin,
 God from Eternity,
Before Thee was none like Thee,
 Nor after shall there be.
 Lo! He Whom heavens adore,
Redeems a world revolted;
And Man, in God exalted,
 Shall reign for evermore.English