Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain

Verse 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 Seas waters.

Verse 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.

Verse 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.

Verse 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
that thy peace
which evermore
passeth human knowing.

Verse 5

“Alleluia!” now we cry
to our King immortal,
who, triumphant,
burst the bars
of the tomb’s dark portal;

“Alleluia!” with the Son,
God the Father praising,
“Alleluia!” yet again
to the Spirit raising.