The tune for this
Advent carol is believed to have been written in
16th century France. Its original French text was written by Abbé
Simon-Joseph Pellegrin.
Venez, Divin Messie
Venez, divin Messie,
Nous rendre espoir et nous sauver!
Vous êtes notre vie!
Venez, venez, venez!
O Fils de Dieu, ne tardez pas;
Par votre corps donnez la joie
A notre monde en désarroi
Redites-nous encore
De quel amour vous nous aimez
Tant d'hommes vous ignorent!
Venez, venez, venez!
Venez, divin Messie,
Nous rendre espoir et nous sauver!
Vous êtes notre vie!
Venez, venez, venez!
A Bethléem, les cieux chantaient
Que le meilleur de vos bienfaits
C'était le don de votre paix
Le mode la dédaigne:
Partout les coeurs sont divisés!
Qu'arrive votre règne!
Venez, venez, venez!
Venez, divin Messie,
Nous rendre espoir et nous sauver!
Vous êtes notre vie!
Venez, venez, venez!
Votes êtes né pour les pécheurs
Que votre grâce, ô Dieu Sauver,
Dissipe en nous la nuit, la peur!
Seigneur, que votre enfance
Nous fasse vivre en la clarté.
Soyez la déliverance!
Venez, venez, venez!
Venez, divin Messie,
Nous rendre espoir et nous sauver!
Vous êtes notre vie!
Venez, venez, venez!
The most oft used English translation was written by St. Mary of St. Philip in 1877.
O come, devine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph
And sadness flee away!
Sweet Saviour haste!
Come, come to earth
Dispel the night, and show thy face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace!
O come, devine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph
And sadness flee away!
O thou, whom nations sighed for,
Whom priests and prophets long fortold
Wilt break the captive fetters,
Redeem the long lost fold.
Sweet Saviour haste!
Come, come to earth
Dispel the night, and show Thy face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace!
O come, devine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph
And sadness flee away!
Shalt come in peace and meekness,
And lowly will thy cradle be
All clothed in human weakness
Shall we the Godhead see
Sweet Saviour haste!
Come, come to earth
Dispel the night, and show Thy face,
And bid us hail the dawn of grace!
O come, devine Messiah!
The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph
And sadness flee away!
This isn't a direct translation of the original French lyrics; that would sound something like this:
Come, devine Messiah
We gather hope and we save!
You are our life!
Come, come, come!
O Son of God, do not wait!
With your body give joy
To our world in disarray
Tell us again
Of the love with which you love us
Despite those who ignore you!
Come, come, come!
At Bethlehem the heavens sang
Of the best of your benefits
It was the dawn of your peace,
The world, the scorn
All hearts are divided!
We wait your reign!
Come, come, come!
You were born for sinners
Whom your grace, O God, Saves
Dispel the night and fear
Lord, in your childhood
We can live in clarity
Be the deliverance!
Come, come, come!
This hymn/carol is in the public domain.