Voices Together ‎#218

218. Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

1 Come, thou long-expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee:
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of ev’ry nation,
joy of ev’ry longing heart.

2 Come, thou universal Savior;
come, redeem the human race.
Life and joy spring from thy favor;
cheer each soul in need of grace.
Still we wait for thine appearing—
make our senseless struggles cease.
Guide us from our weary wand’ring
into paths of perfect peace.

3 Born thy people to deliver,
born a child, and yet a king;
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal Spirit,
rule in all our hearts alone.
By thine all-sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Text Information

• First Line: Come, thou long-expected Jesus
• Title: Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus
• Author: Charles Wesley
• Meter: 8.7.8.7 D
• Publication Date: 2020
• Scripture:
  Isaiah 9:2-7
  ;
  Mark 13:24-27
  ;
  Luke 1:68-80
  ;
  Luke 2:29-32
• Topic: Hope; Joy; Liberation; Reign of Christ
• Source: Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord, 1744; stanza 2 adapt. from “Light of Those Whose Dreary Dwelling” in the same collection

Tune Information

• Name: HYFRYDOL
• Composer: Rowland H. Prichard (ca. 1830)
• Arranger: Ralph Vaughan Williams
• Meter: 8.7.8.7 D
• Key: F Major
• Source: Cyfaill y Cantorion, 1844; arr. Ralph Vaughan Williams (England), The English Hymnal, 1906, adapt. 1951, BBC Hymn Book
• Copyright: adapt. © 1951 Oxford University Press