Advent, Hope Hymns Lyrics

E.1 BESTIR THY POWER

Chorus:
Bestir thy power and come, Lord,
To save our sin-laden race.
Reveal thy bounty and goodness,
Diffuse thy splendour and grace.

Lift your eyes to the hill.
Seek the Saviour until he appears.
It is God who comes to our aid,
God incarnate our ransom has paid.

From the Lord comes release,
He makes evil to cease all around,
Night and day he guards us from harm;
We depend on the strength of his arm.

Come Redeemer and Lord,
Spread thy peace and concord on the earth.
For thy second coming we yearn;
From our bondage of sin we will turn.

To our God let us raise
Our glad voices in praise and esteem,
Render thanks and bless him in song
To him glory and honour belong.

E.2 JOY TO HEAVEN

Joy to heaven, let earth sing its praise!
The mountains and the hills are singing
their joy to the Lord,
And all the trees and flowers
shout praise to his name.

Chorus:
As we await the Lord,
Let our lips proclaim his praise:
Blessed is he who comes in the name
of the Lord.

Joy to heaven, let earth sing its praise!
Show forth your sov'reign power,
rescue your people from sin,
The Lord will come to feed his sheep
with loving care.

E.5 REJOICE, ISRAEL / Psalm 79

Chorus-1:
Rejoice, Israel: behold your Saviour comes!

Chorus-2:
Of a Virgin shall He be born, Emmanuel.

Shepherd of Israel, listen to our plea,
You who lead your people to the pasture.

You who are seated above the Cherubim,
Rouse your strength and come to save your people.

Will you in anger still turn away from us?
Will you spurn the pleadings of your people?

Long have we eaten the tasteless bread of tears,
You have made us drink the gall of bitterness.

See how our neighbours now look on us with scorn
And with railing laughter they deride us.

O Lord most powerful, O Saviour, come to us,
In your mercy deal with us with tenderness.

You brought a vine out of Egypt long ago
And to plant it drove out the nations.

Its branches spread to the river all the way,
Reaching every corner of the Kingdom.

Why then, O Lord, should its walls now be destroyed
So that its fruit can be plucked by the passers by?

O Lord most powerful, O come and save your vine,
Let it feel the greatness of your mighty power.

Never more, Inrd, shall we from your care depart,
We will sing your praises and your glory.

E.6 MARANATHA

Chorus:
Maranatha! Come, O Christ the Lord.

I am the Root of Jesse and David’s Son,
The radiant Star of morning and God’s own Light.

The Spirit and the Bride say: 'Come',
Let those who hear their voices say 'Come'.

Those who have thirst,
let them come and those who have desire,
Let them drink the waters of everlasting life.

"Yes, I come very soon!" Amen!
Come, O Lord Jesus!

E.7 SHOW YOUR GOODNESS, LORD / Psalm 84

Chorus:
Show your goodness, Lord, and redeem.
May your glory shine on the earth,
Pour on us the grace that shall save.

What blessings, Lord,
you gave to this land of yours,
Restoring Jacob's fortunes again.
You overlooked the guilt of your people;
You covered all their sins and forgave.

You calmed, O Lord, the heat of your anger;
Revive us now, O God of our help;
Will you prolong your grievance for ever?
Against us will your wrath never cease?

Your promise now fulfil; bring us back to life
And let your people glory in you.
O Lord, reveal your love and your mercy
And to your people grant saving help.

I'll listen to the voice of the Lord, my God.
A voice that speaks a message of peace.
His saving help is near to those fearing him,
His glory in our land finds a home.

See, faithfulness and love meet together
And righteousness and peace now embrace.
Soon faithfulness shall spring from the earth below,
And justice will look down from the sky.

The Lord himself will grant us his blessing,
Our land will yield its harvest in full.
Before the Lord shall justice for ever walk,
The earth's salvation follow his steps.

E.10 CHRISTMAS, A SAVIOUR WILL COME

Chorus:
Christmas, a Saviour will come, (has)
Christmas, a babe in a stable,
Lying on straw in a manger,
Jesus the Lord will be born. (now is)
High up in the skies above,
The voices of angels will sing: (have sung)
Glory to God in the highest
And peace to his people on earth.

To all the destitute,
Crying to him in starvation
To all the destitute,
Hope he brings and reassurance.

To all the desolate,
Pleading for help in misfortune,
To all the desolate,
Love he brings and consolation.

To all the people he loves,
Pardon he shows and forgiveness.
To all the people he loves,
Peace he brings and joy awakens.

E.12 THE HOUR HAS STRUCK

Chorus:
The hour has struck for your saving,
Rejoice, redemption is nigh.

The time appointed has come,
For the kingdom of God is approaching.
Lift up your head,
The hour of hope is at hand.

The time appointed has come,
For to-day you are called by your Saviour,
Listen to Him,
Receive with fervour the good news.

The time appointed has come,
For the Lord calls and gathers disciples.
Come, follow him
That he may give you new life.

E.14 COME, QUICKLY, LORD

Promised Lord and Christ is He,
Chorus:
May we soon his Kingdom see,
Come, O Lord, quickly come.
Come in glory, come in glory,
Come in glory, quickly, come.

Teaching, healing once was He.

Dead and buried once was He.

Risen from the dead is He.

Soon to come again is He.
May we soon his Kingdom see.
Come, O Lord, quickly come,
In our life-time, in our life-time,
In our life-time may it be.

E.16 COMFORT, COMFORT MY PEOPLE

Chorus:
Comfort, comfort, my people,
Says the Lord, your God.
Cry out loud to Jerusalem,
God has pardoned you.

Every valley shall be filled,
Every mount and hill made low.

In the desert, make a path
For the Lord, Emmanuel.

For the glory of the Lord
Soon shall be revealed to me.

E.18 JESUS, COME

Chorus:
Jesus, Come, Jesus, come, Jesus, come.
Say to us: I’m the one who is to come.

He will come just when you feel
He’ll never come.
He will come just when you think
He is gone.
He’ll be there just when you find
He’s elsewhere.
Please don’t be late, be awake, let Him come.

He will come just when you want to shut your door.
He will come just when you want to be alone.
He’ll be there just when you are not aware.
Don’t make Him wait, be alert, let Him come.

He will come to share his Love, Peace and Joy.
He will come to save us all from sin
He’ll be there to lift us up when we fall.
He’s knocking hard, open wide, let Him come.

E.19 WAKE UP, O PEOPLE!

Chorus:
Wake up, O people, the Lord is very near,
Wake up and stand for the Lord. (2)

Your saving Lord is near, Wake up!
His glory will appear, Wake up!
Your hour of grace is nearer than it ever was.

The night of sin has past, Wake up!
The light is near at last, Wake up!
The Day Star, Christ, the Son of God will soon appear.

To live in love and peace, Wake up!
To let all quarrels cease, Wake up!
To live that all you do may stand the light of day...

That Christ may be your shield, Wake up!
That death to life may yield, Wake up!
That heaven’s gate be opened wide again for you...

E.20 GO UP TO THE MOUNTAIN

Chorus:
Go up to the mountain, joyful, bearer of good news,
Shout with a full voice, our God is near.

Those who hope in the Lord
find their strength renewed,
They soar like an eagle,
like an eagle they fly.

Those who hope in the Lord,
never grow weary
And never lose heart,
should they run or walk.

See, the Lord is coming,
is coming with strength
Like a shepherd,
leading the flock.

Yahweh, come to us and
our harps will resound
With such gladness,
all the days of our life.

Yes, it is the living,
the living who praise you
And we speak to all
of your faithfulness.

E.22 EVERY VALLEY

Chorus:
Every valley shall be exalted
And every hill made low.
And all God's people shall see together
The glory of the Lord.

A voice cries out in the wilderness:
"Prepare the way of the Lord.
Make straight in the desert a highway,
A highway for our God".

Comfort all my people;
The time for war is gone.
The blind shall see, the deaf shall hear;
The lame shall leap for joy.

Stand upon the mountain top;
Lift up your voice to the world.
Sing joyfully, Jerusalem,
Behold, behold your God!

E.23 PREPARE YE THE WAY

Chorus:
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,
Every valley shall be filled,
And every mountain and hill
shall be brought low,
And the crooked shall be made straight.
And the rough ways shall be made smooth,
And all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Sow to yourselves in righteousness,
Reap in mercy, break up your fallow ground.
For it is time to seek the Lord
Till he comes to rain righteousness on you.

E.24 HOPE, SWEET HOPE OF ALL AGES

Chorus:
Hope, sweet hope of all ages: Jesus Christ!
Hope, sweet hope of all peoples: Jesus Christ!

Come to our aid today and always: Jesus Christ!
Strengthen our weakened faith when it sways: Jesus Christ!

Your love alone is love that saves: Jesus Christ!
For love and peace the human heart craves: Jesus Christ!

Like heavenly rain that sinks into earth: Jesus Christ!
Pour down your love and bring it to birth: Jesus Christ!

Glory of God and peace to all nations: Jesus Christ!
Love crucified to win us salvation: Jesus Christ!

E.25 COME, EMMANUEL, COME

Come Emmanuel, come to save your people.
Come Emmanuel, come delay no more.

Come, O David's Son, come to save your people.
Come, O David's Son, come delay no more.

Come, O Rising Sun, come to save your people.
Come, O Rising Sun, come delay no more.

Come, desire of the world, come to save your people.
Come, desire of the world, come delay no more.

Come, delight of our hearts, come to save your people.
Come, delight of our hearts, come delay no more.

Come, Redeemer and Lord, come to save your people.
Come, Redeemer and Lord, come delay no more.

E.26 LET HEAVEN REJOICE

Chorus:
Let heaven rejoice and earth be glad,
Let all creation sing.
Let children proclaim through every land:
Hosanna to our King!

Sound the trumpet into the night;
The day of the Lord is near.
Wake his people, lift your voice.
Proclaim it to the world.

Rise in splendour; shake off your sleep;
Put on your robes of joy.
And in the morning
You shall see the glory of the Lord.

Raise your voice, be not afraid.
Proclaim it in every land:
Christ has died, but he has risen;
He will come again.

Sing a new song unto the Lord,
For he has done wonderful deeds.
Praise him, thank him, dance before him,
Play before the Lord.

E.27 LIKE A SEA WITHOUT A SHORE

Like a sea without a shore,
love divine is boundless.
Time is now and evermore
and his love surrounds us.

Chorus:
Maranatha (3), come, Lord Jesus, come!

So that mankind could be free
he appeared among us.
Blest are those who have not seen,
Yet believe his promise.

All our visions, all our dreams are
but ghostly shadows
Of the radiant clarity waiting at life's close.

Death, where is your victory?
Death, where is your sting?
Closer than the air we breathe is our risen King.

E.28 JESUS IS COMING

Chorus:
Jesus is coming (2), Jesus is coming again,
Rise from your slumber, welcome the Day-star,
Open your hearts to the King!

You in darkness, greet the Light,
Shining through the dreary night.
Unto us is coming soon
Jesus, our Emmanuel.

By these names shall He be called:
Everlasting Father,
Counsellor most wonderful,
Mighty God and Prince of peace.

And the government shall be firm
Upon his shoulder.
He shall rule with righteousness.
Truth and justice shall prevail.

Joy to you, I say, rejoice,
For the Lord is very near.
In the desert make a way
And his glory shall appear.

E.29 GOD WITH US

For unto us a child is born.
Yes, unto us a Son is given.

Chorus:
God with us, revealed in us,
His name shall be Emmanuel.

He shall be called the Counsellor,
The mighty God, the Prince of peace.

With righteousness, He'll rule the world,
His government will have no end.

E.30 AWAKE FROM YOUR SLUMBER

Awake from your slumber, arise from your sleep,
A new day is dawning for all those who weep.
The people in darkness have seen a great light.
The Lord of our longing has conquered the night.

Chorus:
Let us build the city of God.
May our tears be turned into dancing!
For the Lord, our light and our love,
Has turned the night into day!

We are sons of the morning,
we are daughters of day,
The One who has loved us has brightened our way.
The Lord of all kindness has called us to be
A light for his people to set their hearts free.

God is light, in Him there is no darkness.
Let us walk in His light, His children, one and all.
O comfort my people, make gentle your words.
Proclaim to my city the day of her birth.

O city of gladness, now lift up your voice!
Proclaim the good tidings that all may rejoice.

E.31 ALL YOU CHILDREN OF PEACE

All you children of peace
And all you lovers of freedom,
All you seekers of justice
And all who wait for Messiah to come.

Chorus:
Rejoice in the Lord, rejoice (2)
For He is coming to rule the earth,
Rejoice in the Lord, rejoice!

All who trust in His love
And all who wait for His righteousness,
All who've tasted His mercy
And all who hope in His faithfulness.

Hallelujah, holy is His name!
Hallelujah, He will reign for ever. Amen.

E.32 STAY AWAKE

Chorus:
Stay awake, the Master is coming.
Be not asleep for all may be lost,
Stand ready, the Son of Man is coming
At a time we may least expect!

Prepare the way and clear the bye lanes
For our Lord and Master yet to come,
With open minds and grateful hearts
Let's now repent our sinful past.

The Master's work proclaims his glory,
He has given sight to the blind,
The deafened ears have been unsealed,
The lame have leapt and sung for joy.

"Forgive", he says, "all those who hurt you,
Love instead as God's good children should,
Don't be their judge lest you be judged,
As God alone can judge us all."

Let's love them all who are around us,
Most of all the poorest of the poor,
By this we'll bring a ray of hope
And joy into their saddened hearts.

E.34 PREPARE YE THE WAY

Chorus:
Prepare ye the way of the Lord,
Make his path straight, open the gate
That he may enter freely into our lives.
"Hosanna" we cry to his name.

For in his reign the poor will prosper,
He will judge in righteousness.
And he will crush, put down oppressors,
Give deliverance to the weak.

He falls like dew upon the flowers,
Like the rains that quench the earth.
And in his days, justice shall flourish,
He will be the Prince of peace.

May Jesus rule o'er land and ocean,
May his foes before Him bow.
Long may He live, His name enduring,
May all people bless His name.

E.35 COME, LORD JESUS

Come, Lord Jesus..
Come and be born in our hearts!

Come, O Prince of peace...
Come and be born in our hearts!

Our hearts are open...
Come and be born in our hearts!

Come, Emmanuel...
Come and be born in our hearts!

Maranatha...
Come and be born in our hearts!

E.36 COME, LORD, COME IN GLORY

God, as we come before you,
Renew us in our love;
Baptised and blessed in your family now,
Renew your Spirit in us.

Chorus:
Come, Lord, come in glory Lord!
Come, Lord, Maranatha!
Come again in glory, Maranatha!

Baptised by John in the Jordan,
The sinless Lamb of God
Received your Spirit from heaven above,
Renew your Spirit in us.

Mary has welcomed your Spirit
And Jesus has grown in her womb,
With faith she brings him to Bethlehem,
Renew your Spirit in us.

Now as we come before You,
Oh send your Messiah to us!
Prepare us now as your family here,
Renew your Spirit in us.

E.38 HOW BEAUTIFUL ON THE MOUNTAIN

Chorus:
How beautiful on the mountain
Are the feet of those bearing good news,
Who herald peace and happiness
And proclaim that God is King (2).

Listen, you guards, raise voices,
They shout for joy together,
They see Yahweh face to face
As he returns to Zion.

The ruins of God's City
Proclaim in thunderous voices
That God consoles his people
And comes to save His holy place.

God's mighty holy arm
Is seen by all the nations,
Throughout the lands all will see
The mighty saving hand of God.

E.39 SAVE US, O LORD

Chorus:
Save us, O Lord, carry us back.
Rouse your power and come.
Rescue your people; show us your face.
Bring us back.

O Shepherd of Israel, hear us.
Return and we shall be saved.
Arise, O Lord; hear our cries, O Lord.
Bring us back.

How long will you hide from your people?
We long to see your face.
Give ear to us. Draw near to us,
Lord, God of hosts!