Wake! The Welcome Day Appeareth

For Advent

Words: Auf! Auf! weil der Tag erschienen, Johann A. Freylinghausen (1670-1739),
Translation by Frances Elizabeth Cox
Her original translation: Wake! The Welcome Day Appeareth

Source: George Radcliffe Woodward, ed., Songs of Syon (London: Schott & Co., Third Edition, 1908), #9

1. Wake! the welcome day appeareth;
How with joy our hearts it cheereth!
Wake! the Lord’s great year behold,
That which holy men of old,
Those who throng the sacred pages,
Waited for through countless ages;
    Alleluya, Alleluya.¹

2. Now the wish’d for morning breaketh;
Hark! how Syon’s daughter waketh
Shouts of joy and jubilee,
Thus his Advent-dawn to see;
King and Bridegroom she enthrones him,
Though ‘tis but a remnant owns him;
    Alleluya, Alleluya.

3. Patriarchs erst and priests aspiring,
Kings and prophets long desiring
Saw not this before they died;
Lo! the light to them denied!
See its beams to earth directed,
Welcome, O thou long-expected!
    Alleluya, Alleluya.

4. He, the Saviour sent by Heaven,
Once through faith to Abram given,
Israel's Son and glorious King,
Hope to which the heathen cling,
Now on earth with men abiding,
Comes to Zion meekly riding;
    Alleluya, Alleluya.

5. Lo! He comes, a victim willing,
All his Father's will fulfilling;
He will, through His precious blood,
All things once again make good,
Pain and shame of death sustaining,
What was lost with joy regaining;
    Alleluya, Alleluya.

6. In our stead Himself He offers,
On th' accursed tree He suffers,
That his death's sweet favour may
Take our curse for aye away,
Cross and curse for us enduring,
Hope and heaven to us securing;
    Alleluya, Alleluya.

7. Moses' law no longer rules us,
Christ's free Spirit gently schools us;
Ended now our captive thrall,
He who God obeys in all,
Through his Saviour's death and merit,
Now enjoys adoption's spirit;
    Alleluya, Alleluya.

8. Rent the temple curtain's centre,
Fearless each may strive to enter,
Through the veil, the holy place,
There to stand before Him face;
He who once came down from heaven,
Fear from all our breasts hath drive;
    Alleluya, Alleluya.

9. Hence thy King, O Zion, praising
Heart and voice to Him upraising,
Shout for joy, for once thou art
In His Reign to bear thy part;
Come, thyself as offering bringing,
Come, thou Bride for ever singing,
    Alleluya, Alleluya.

Note:

1. Or: 'Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Return

Verses 1-3 from George Radcliffe Woodward, ed., Songs of Syon (London: Schott & Co., Third Edition, 1908), #9. Verses 4-9 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), #30, p. 42. The scans, below, contains the German lyrics for all nine verses.

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), #30, p. 42

Melody by G. R. Rotscher, 1786
Harmony from by Dr. F. Layriz

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