Weekly beauty: The Great O Antiphons

The Great O Antiphons are centuries-old prayers for Advent. They are the basis for the hymn "O Come, O Come Emmanuel." Here are the prayers, as well as a couple versions of the hymn.


O Wisdom, proceeding from the mouth of the Most High,
Pervading and permeating all creation, mightily ordering all things:
Come and teach us the way of prudence.

O Adonai and ruler of the house of Israel,
Who appeared to Moses in the burning bush and gave him the Law on Sinai:
Come with an outstretched arm and redeem us.

O Root of Jesse, who stands as an ensign before the peoples,
Before whom all kings are mute and to whom the nations will do homage:
Come quickly to deliver us.

O Key of David and scepter of the house of Israel,
You open and no one can close, you close and no one can open:
Come and rescue the prisoners who are in darkness and the shadow of death.

O Dayspring, splendor of light everlasting:
Come and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O King of the nations,
The ruler they long for, the cornerstone uniting all people:
Come and save us all, whom you formed out of clay.

O Emmanuel, our king and our lawgiver,
The anointed for the nations and their Savior:
Come and save us, O Lord our God.


In Latin:




In English: