The Great Antiphons

I've decided (a trifle belatedly) to post the Great Antiphons as we approach Christmas. These Antiphons are said with the Magnificat at Vespers for the seven days before Christmas Eve.

As you'll note, they form the basis for the classic Advent hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel. I'll put up the new one each day.

I've taken these from the Monastic Diurnal, a Benedictine breviary predating the reform of the Hours, published by St. Michael's Abbey Press.

O Emmánuel

O Emmánuel, Rex et légifer noster, expectátio géntium, et Salvátor eárum: veni ad salvándum nos, Dómine, Deus noster.

O Emmanuel, our King and Lawgiver, the Desire of all nations and their Saviour: come and save us, O Lord our God.

O Rex géntium

O Rex géntium, et desiderátus eárum, lapísque anguláris, qui facis útraque unum: veni, et salva hóminem, quem de limo formásti.

O King of nations, and their Desired, the Cornerstone Who dost make both one: come and save mankind whom Thou didst form out of clay.

O Oriens

O Oriens, splendor lucis ætérnæ, et sol iustítæ: veni, et illúmina sedéntes in ténebris et umbra mortis.

O Dayspring, brightness of eternal Light and Sun of Justice: come and enlighten them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O clavis David

O clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israël; que áperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo áperit: veni, et educ vinctum de domo cárceris, sedéntum in ténebris et umbra mortis.

O Key of David, and Sceptre of the house of Israel, Who dost open and no man shutteth, Who dost shut and no man openeth; come and lead forth from his prison the captive sitting in darkness and in the shadow of death.

O radix Iesse

O radix Iesse, qui stas in signum populórum, super quem continébunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabúntur: veni ad liberándum nos, iam noli tardáre.

O Root of Jesse, Who dost stand for an enseign of the people, before Whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: come to deliver us and delay not.

O Adonái

O Adonái, et Dux domus Israël, qui Móysi in igne flammæ rubi apparuísti, et ei in Sina legem dedísti: veni ad rediméndum nos in brácchio exténto.

O Adonai, and Leader of the house of Israel, Who didst appear to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and didst give him the law in Sinai: come, and with an outstreched arm, redeem us.

O Sapiéntia

O Sapiéntia, quæ ex ore Altíssimi prodiísti, attíngens a fine usque ad finem, fórtiter suavitérque dispónens ómnia: veni ad docéndum nos viam prudéntiæ.

O Wisdom, Who didst come from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and disposing all things sweetly and mightily: come and teach us the way of prudence.