Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain - #204 - John Mason Neale Translation

"Come, Ye Faithful, Raise the Strain"
by John of Damascus, c. 750
Translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866

1. Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
Of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought His Israel
Into joy from sadness.
'Tis the spring of souls today:
Christ hath burst His prison
And from three days' sleep in death
As a sun hath risen.

2. All the winter of our sins,
Long and dark, is flying
From His light, to whom we give
Laud and praise undying.
Neither could the gates of death
Nor the tomb's dark portal
Nor the watchers nor the seal
Hold Thee as a mortal.

3. But today amidst Thine own
Thou didst stand, bestowing
That Thy peace which evermore
Passeth human knowing.
Come, ye faithful, raise the strain
Of triumphant gladness;
God hath brought His Israel
Into joy from sadness.

The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #204 from
Text: Ex. 15:1-21
Author: John of Damascus, c. 750
Translated by: John M. Neale, 1859, alt. ab.
Titled:"Aisohmen pantes laoi"
Tune: "Schwing dich auf"
1st Published in: _Geistliche Andachten_
Town: Berlin, 1666