Come, O Christian People Sing

Come, O Christian people sing

In triumphant gladness;

God has rescued Israel,

Given joy for sadness;

Freed from Pharaoh’s bitter yoke

Jacob’s sons and daughters;

Leading them beyond all death

Through the Red Sea waters.

Spring is in our hearts today;

Christ has burst his prison

And from three days’ sleep in death

As a sun has risen.

All the winter of our sins,

Long and dark, is flying

From his light, to whom we give

Song and praise undying.

Now the queen of seasons, bright

With the day of splendor,

With the royal feast of feasts,

Far from dark December,

Comes to glad Jerusalem,

Who with true affection,

Welcomes with untiring praise

Jesus’ resurrection.

Neither could the gates of death,

Nor the tomb’s dark portal,

Nor the watchers, nor the seal,

Hold you as a mortal.

But today amid your own

You have stood bestowing

Your own peace which evermore

Passes human knowing.

Tune: Ave Virgo Virginum (Gaudeamus Pariter) 76.76 D

Music: Johann Horn, 1544

Text: Aσωμεν παντες λαοι, John of Damascus, c. 740

Translation: John Mason Neale, 1818-1866