Scripture Verse

Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20

Introduction

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Christopher Wordsworth (1807–1885)

Words: Chris­to­pher Words­worth, The Ho­ly Year (Lon­don: Ri­ving­tons, 1862), page 81. The orig­in­al text be­gan Hal­le­lu­jah! Hal­le­lu­jah!

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

Alternate Tunes:

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Rowland H. Prichard (1811–1887)

Lyrics

Alleluia, al­le­luia!
Hearts to Hea­ven and voic­es raise:
Sing to God a hymn of glad­ness,
Sing to God a hymn of praise.
He, who on the cross a vic­tim,
For the world’s sal­va­tion bled,
Jesus Christ, the King of glo­ry,
Now is ris­en from the dead.

Now the ir­on bars are brok­en,
Christ from death to life is born,
Glorious life, and life im­mor­tal,
On the holy East­er morn.
Christ has tri­umphed, and we con­quer
By His migh­ty en­ter­prise:
We with Him to life eter­nal
By His re­sur­rect­ion rise.

Christ is ris­en, Christ the first-fruits
Of the ho­ly har­vest field,
Which will all its full abun­dance
At His se­cond com­ing yield:
Then the gold­en ears of har­vest
Will their heads be­fore Him wave,
Ripened by His glo­ri­ous sunshine
From the fur­rows of the grave.

Christ is ris­en, we are ris­en.
Shed upon us heav’n­ly grace,
Rain and dew and gleams of glo­ry
From the bright­ness of Thy face;
That we, with our hearts in Hea­ven,
Here on earth may fruit­ful be,
And by an­gel hands be ga­thered,
And be ev­er, Lord, with Thee.

Alleluia, al­le­lu­ia!
Glory be to God on high;
Alleluia! to the Sav­ior
Who has gained the vic­to­ry;
Alleluia! to the Spi­rit,
Fount of love and sanc­ti­ty:
Alleluia, al­le­lu­ia!
To the Tri­une Ma­jes­ty.