Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship ‎#7

7. Savior of the Nations, Come

1. Savior of the nations, come,
Virgin's Son, make here your home.
Marvel now, O Heav'n and Earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.

2. Not by human flesh and blood,
By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh:
Woman's offspring, pure and fresh.

3. Wondrous birth! O wondrous child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in Heav’n enthroned.

4. Lo, he comes! The Lord of all
Leaves his bright and royal hall;
God and man, with giant force,
Hastening to run his course.

5. From the Father forth he came
And returned hence to the same.
Captive leading death and hell—
High the song of triumph swell!

6. Christ, the Father’s only Son,
Has o’er sin the vict’ry won.
Boundless shall your kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?

7. Brightly does your manger shine;
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o’ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.

8. Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.

Text Information

• First Line: Savior of the nations, come
• Title: Savior of the Nations, Come
• Original Language: Latin
• Author: Ambrose
• Translator: Martin Luther
• Translator: William M. Reynolds
• Meter: 7.7.7.7
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2024
• Scripture:
  Jeremiah 33:15
• Topic: Advent: Ambrose of Milan
• Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1889; The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941
• Notes: Text by Ambrose, “Veni redemptor gentium,” 4th cen., tr. into German by Martin Luther, first publ. in Enchiridion oder eyn Handbüchlein (1524). Sts. 1–2,6a,8 tr. Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book (1889), rev. in The Lutheran Hymnal (1941); sts. 3,5,6b,7 tr. William M. Reynolds (1850); st. 4 tr. Richard Massie (1854).

Tune Information

• Name: VENI REDEMPTOR GENTIUM
• Adapter: Martin Luther (1524)
• Arranger: J.S. Bach (1731)
• Meter: 7.7.7.7
• Incipit: 11732 121
• Key: g minor
• Notes: Tune adapt. by Martin Luther from the Latin chant, arr. J.S. Bach, as in Cantata BWV 36, mvt. 8 (1731).