Come, You Faithful, Raise the Strain

Come, you faithful, raise the strain
Of triumphant gladness!
God has brought forth Israel
Into joy from sadness
Loosed from Pharaoh's bitter yoke
Jacob's sons and daughters
Led them with unmoistened foot
Through the Red Sea waters

'Tis the spring of souls today
Christ has burst his prison
And from three days' sleep in death
As a sun has risen
All the winter of our sins
Long and dark, is flying
From the Light to whom we give
Laud and praise undying

Now the queen of seasons, bright
With the day of splendor
With the royal feast of feasts
Comes its joy to render
Comes to glad Jerusalem
Who with true affection
Welcomes in unwearied strain
Jesus' resurrection!

Neither could the gates of death
Nor the tomb's dark portal
Nor the watchers, nor the seal
Hold you as a mortal
But today, among your own
You appear, bestowing
Your deep peace, which evermore
Passes human knowing

Alleluia! now we cry
To our Lord immortal
Who triumphant burst the bars
Of the tomb's dark portal
Alleluia! with the Son
God the Father praising
Alleluia! yet again
To the Spirit raising