Veni redemptor gentium

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Office hymn for the octave before Christmas, attributed to St. Ambrose. The German paraphrase Nun komm der Heiden Heiland is by Luther.

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Text and translations

Latin.png Latin text

1. Veni, Redemptor gentium;
Ostende partum virginis;
Miretur omne saeculum.
Talis decet partus Deo.

2. Non ex virili semine,
Sed mystico spiramine
Verbum Dei factum est caro,
Fructusque ventris floruit.

3. Alvus tumescit virginis.
Claustr(um)/(a) pudoris permane(n)t;
Vexilla virtutum micant,
Versatur in templo Deus.

4. Procedat e thalamo suo,
Pudoris aula regia,
Geminae gigans substantiae
Alacris occurrat viam.

5. Aequalis aeterno Patri,
Carnis tropaeo accingere,
Infirma nostri corporis
Virtute firmans perpeti.

6. Praesepe iam fulget tuum,
Lumenque nox spirat novum,
Quad nulla nox interpolet
Fideque iugi luceat.

7. Sit Christi rex piissime
tibi Patrique gloria
cum Spiritu Paraclito
in sempiterne saecula.
Amen.

English.png English translation

1. Come, redeemer of the peoples,
and show the birth from a Virgin;
every age shall acclaim
that such a birth befits God.

2. Not out of human seed,
but out of godly breath
the Word of God is made flesh
and the fruit of the womb flourishes.

3. The virgin womb became pregnant
yet remained a bastion of chastity;
the standards of virtue shine [there],
[and] God dwells in [such] temple.

4. Let him come from His chamber,
[which is] the kingly dwelling of chastity,
a giant of twofold substance
intent on fulfilling [his] destiny.

He comes from the Father,
and to the Father he returns;
his path [goes] all the way to the infernal regions
[and] return to God's seat.

5. [You who are] an equal to the eternal Father,
wear the girdle of flesh
[and] invigorate the weakness of our body
by [your] eternal virtue.

6. Your cradle shines already
and the night breaths a new light,
for no night shall intervene
and endless faith shall glow.

7. To you, Christ, most pious,
and to the Father be glory
with the Spirit Paraclete
throughout all ages. Amen.

Glory to you, Lord,
who are born of a virgin,
with the Father and the holy Spirit,
throughout all ages. Amen.

English.png English translation

Come, thou Redeemer of the earth,
And manifest thy virgin-birth:
Let every age adoring fall,
Such birth befits the God of all.

Begotten of no human will,
But of the Spirit, thou art still
The Word of God, in flesh arrayed,
The Saviour, now to man displayed.

The virgin womb that burden gained
With virgin honour all unstained,
The banners there of virtue glow,
God in his temple dwells below.

Forth from that chamber goeth he,
That royal home of purity,
A giant in twofold substance one,
Rejoicing now his course to run.

From God the Father he proceeds,
To God the Father back he speeds,
Runs out his course to death and hell,
Returns on God's high throne to dwell.

O equal to thy Father, thou!
Gird on thy fleshly mantle now,
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.

Thy cradle here shall glitter bright,
And darkness glow with new-born light,
No more shall night extingush day,
Where love's bright beams their power display.

O Jesu, Virgin-born, to thee
Eternal praise and glory be,
Whom with the Father we adore
And Holy Spirit, evermore.

Translation by Philip Schaff, from The New English Hymnal