Rejoice, All Ye Believers

For Advent

Words: Ermuntert euch, ihr Frommen, Laurentius Laurenti (1660-1722), 1700;

Based on the Translation by Sarah B. Findlater (1823-1907), alt., Hymns from the Land of Luther, 1854

Compare: Rejoice, All Ye Believers - Findlater

Music: "In Heaven Is Joy," Norwegian Folk-tune
Meter: 7 6 8 SL
Also "Vigil," Swedish Folk-tune
Meter: 7 6 7 6 D

Source: Andreas Bersagel, et al, eds., The Condordia Hymnal
(Minneapolis: Augsburg Publishing House, 1932), #113, p. 100.

1. Rejoice, all ye believers,
And let your lights appear!
The evening is advancing,
And darker night is near.
The Bride-groom is arising,
And soon He draweth nigh.
Up, watch, and pray, and wrestle,
At midnight comes the cry!

2. The watchers on the mountain
Proclaim the Bride-groom near;
Go meet Him as He cometh,
With hallelujahs clear.
The marriage feast is waiting,
The gates wide open stand!
Up, up, ye heirs of glory,
The Bride-groom is at hand!

3. Ye saints, who here in patience
Your cross and suff’rings bore,
Shall live and reign forever,
Where sorrow is no more.
Around the throne of glory
The Lamb ye shall behold,
In triumph cast before Him
Your diadems of gold!

4. Our Hope and Expectation,
O Jesus now appear;
Arise, Thou Sun so longed for,
O'er this benighted sphere!
With hearts and hands uplifted,
We plead, O Lord, to see
The day of earth’s redemption,
That brings us unto Thee!

Additional second, third, and fifth verses from J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #45, pp. 72-3.

2. See that your lamps are burning,
Replenish them with oil,
And wait for your salvation
The end of earthly toil.
The watchers on the mountain
Proclaim the Bridegroom near:
Go, meet Him as He cometh,
With Hallelujahs clear!

3. Ye wise and holy virgins,
Now raise your voices higher,
Until in songs of triumph
They meet the angel-choir.
The marriage-feast is waiting.
The gates wide open stand;
Up! up! ye heirs of glory,
The Bridegroom is at hand!

5. There flourish palms of vict'ry,
There radiant garments are;
There waves the peaceful harvest,
Beyond the reach of war.
There, after stormy winter,
The flowers of earth arise,
And from the grave's long slumber
Shall meet again our eyes!

Sheet Music from The Condordia Hymnal

Sheet Music from The Parish School Hymnal. Philadelphia: Board of Publication of the United Lutheran Church in America, 1926, #7.

Sheet Music from J. H. Hopkins, ed., Great Hymns of the Church Compiled by the Late Right Reverend John Freeman Young (New York: James Pott & Company, 1887), #45, pp. 72-3.

"Melody first published by Triller, in 1559.
Author unknown. Harmony from Layriz."
Text: "Hymns from the Land of Luther."

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