O Key of David, Hailed by Those

For Advent

December 19, called O Clavis David

Source: William Cooke and Benjamin Webb, eds., The Hymnary – A Book of Church Song (London: Novello, Ewer and Co., 1872), #122, p. 102.

This is one in a series of seven hymns based on the Seven Great “O” Antiphons.

See: Notes on Veni, Veni, Emmanuel

O Key of David and Sceptre of the House of Israel, Thou that openest, and no man shutteth, and shuttest, and no man openeth: Come, and loose the prisoner from the prison-house, and him that sitteth in darkness from the shadow of death.

O Key of David, hailed by those
    In fetters long confined;
For where Thou openest none may close,
    Nor where Thou loosest, bind;

Without one ray of light around
    To comfort and to cheer,
Poor prisoners we, in fetters bound,
    Await Thy drawing near.

Thou, only Thou, canst loose the chain,
    Thou only end our woe:
Thou only give us light again,
    And let the captives go.

We wait in faith, in prayer we wait,
    Until the happy day
When Thou shalt ope our prison-gate,
    And call Thine Own away.

From every creature that hath breath
    Praise to the Father be;
To Him that hath the keys of death;
    And, Holy Ghost, to Thee. Amen.

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