Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Words: Charles Wesley, Hymns for the Nativity of Our Lord and New Year’s Day (London: William Strahan, 1745), number 10.

Music: Hyfrydol Rowland H. Prichard, Cyfaill y Cantorion (Llanidloes, Wales: John M. Jones, printer, 1844) (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tunes:

Advent Gospel Scott Werdebaugh, 2018 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Cross of Jesus (Stainer) John Stainer, 1887 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Halton Holgate William Boyce, circa 1765 (🔊 pdf nwc)
St. Hilary anonymous, in Hymnal and Canticles of the Protestant Episcopal Church with Music, edited by Walter B. Gilbert & Alfred B. Goodrich (New York: E. P. Dutton, 1883), page 77 (🔊 pdf nwc)
Stuttgart Christian F. Witt, 1715. Adapted by Henry J. Gauntlett (1805–1876) (🔊 pdf nwc)
Wilson from tenor aria number 4, in the oratorio Elijah by Felix Mendelssohn, 1846. Appeared in The Methodist Hymnal (New York: Methodist Book Concern, 1905), number 116 (🔊 pdf nwc)

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a king,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Scripture Verse

Introduction

Lyrics