The nation of Israel has always experienced exile and persecution, but this exile spoken of is not one of any particular point in history, but rather the exile from paradise and from friendship with God which Israel suffered and which, to some degree, the Church still suffers, as she is at once the spotless bride of Christ and one in need of further purity. A better translation: "O come, o come Emmanuel, and free captive Israel, which groans in exile, deprived of the Son of God. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"
Veni veni, Emmanuel
captivum solve Israel,
qui gemit in exsilio,
privatus Dei Filio.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!
O come, O come, Emmanuel,
and ransom captive Israel,
that morns in lonely exile here
until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!
The Word of God, who is made flesh for us, is the Eternal Logos, the reason, logic, and wisdom through whom God created the world. He orders all things, and showing us the path of knowledge, has the power to order our lives. A better translation: "O come, thou Wisdom, who orders all here, o come, that you may teach the way of prudence and glory. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"
Veni, O Sapientia,
quae hic disponis omnia,
veni, viam prudentiae
ut doceas et gloriae.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!
O come, Thou Wisdom, from on high,
and order all things far and nigh;
to us the path of knowledge show,
and teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!
The Lord, whom we have called Wisdom, gave the law to His people, and we ask Him to come now once more and enforce His law. A better translation: "O come, o come, thou Lord, who gave the law on Sinai on the peak in the majesty of glory. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"
Veni, veni, Adonai,
qui populo in Sinai
legem dedisti vertice
in maiestate gloriae.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!
O come, o come, Thou Lord of might,
who to thy tribes on Sinai's height
in ancient times did give the law,
in cloud, and majesty, and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!
Jesus Christ, who arose from the stem of Jesse, the father of Joseph and the twelve tribes of Israel, is his greatest descendant, who conquered the vile enemy of Israel and our first parents, sin and death. May He grant us life everlasting. A better translation: "O come, O shoot of Jesse, lead your own [people] from the talon of the enemy, your own [people] from the looked-down-upon [place] of the underworld, and the tomb of the abyss. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"
Veni, O Iesse virgula,
ex hostis tuos ungula,
despectu tuos tartari
educ et antro barathri.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!
O come, Thou Rod of Jesse's stem,
from ev'ry foe deliver them
that trust Thy mighty power to save,
and give them vict'ry o'er the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!
The Latin line "et claude vias inferum" actually says "and close the roads to hell," but the English has been softened. Here we read that Jesus Christ, the descendant of King David, is to open heaven to us and guide us on the way, but also to close the roads to hell. Although this is not literally done, Jesus does provide Himself as the Way, the Truth, and the Life so that for those who follow Him, it will be as though the roads to hell are closed. A better translation: "O come, though Davidic Key, unlock the heavenly realms, make the heavenly journey safe, and lock the roads to hell. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"
Veni, Clavis Davidica,
regna reclude caelica,
fac iter tutum superum,
et claude vias inferum.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!
O come, Thou Key of David, come,
and open wide our heav'nly home,
make safe the way that leads on high,
that we no more have cause to sigh.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!
Jesus Christ, who is in Scripture called the "Sun of Justice," dawns for us in the midst of this dark world in which we live. It is He who dispels the shadows through the light of holiness and justice. A better translation: "O come, o come, O Eastern one [the Sun], arriving to comfort us, dispel the clouds of night and curses and shadows of death. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"
Veni, veni O Oriens,
solare nos adveniens,
noctis depelle nebulas,
dirasque mortis tenebras.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!
O come, Thou Dayspring from on high,
and cheer us by thy drawing nigh;
disperse the gloomy clouds of night
and death's dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!
The King of Nations, as the Latin calls Him, comes to bring peace on earth and unity to mankind. Let us make this our constant prayer. A better translation: "O come, o come, King of the Nations, o come, Redeemer of all, that you may save your servants aware of sin. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel!"
Veni, veni, Rex Gentium,
veni, Redemptor omnium,
ut salvas tuos famulos
peccati sibi conscios.
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel,
nascetur pro te Israel!
O come, Desire of the nations, bind
in one the hearts of all mankind;
bid every strife and quarrel cease
and fill the world with heaven's peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! O Israel,
to thee shall come Emmanuel!
His Servant and Yours,
Micah
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actually, i'm surprised by how literal the translation actually is, considering that they had to account for rhyme/meter. its pretty impressive, esp considering how BAD our mass translations are, and those don't have to rhyme! :-p
ReplyDeletethanks, this was enjoyable! :)