Come, ye faithful, raise the strain

if you do not hear the tune, click here.

1
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain 
of triumphant gladness! 
God hath brought forth Israel 
into joy from sadness, 
loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke 
Jacob's sons and daughters, 
led them with unmoistened foot 
through the Red Sea waters. 

2
'Tis the spring of souls today; 
Christ hath burst his prison, 
and from three days' sleep in death 
as a sun hath risen. 
All the winter of our sins, 
long and dark, is flying 
from his light, to whom we give 
laud and praise undying. 

3
Now the queen of seasons, bright 
with the day of splendor, 
with the royal feast of feasts, 
comes its joy to render; 
comes to glad Jerusalem, 
who with true affection 
welcomes in unwearied strains 
Jesus' resurrection. 

4
Neither might the gates of death, 
nor the tomb's dark portal, 
nor the watchers, nor the seal 
hold thee as a mortal. 
But today amidst the twelve 
thou didst stand, bestowing 
thy true peace which evermore 
passes human knowing.

#265 in Hymnal: A Worship Book

Words:  John of Damascus, First Ode of Canon for the Sunday after Easter, 8th c.,
                   tr. John M. Neale, Christian Remembrance, 1859, alt.
   Tune:  Johann Horn, Ein Gesangbuch der Bruder im Behemen und Merherrn, 1544;
                   revised in Catholicum Hymnologium Germanicum, 1584

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