anchorhold

Something of a curiosity, this: Belle and Sebastian singing the "low church translation" I grew up with. Below, the T A Lacey version favoured by the NEH, which I rather prefer (though I do think Neale's verse three is better, and his v 5 does contain the line 'in cloud and majesty and awe' - but he doesn't have good lion). Either way, a strong candidate for the Best Hymn Ever.

1 O come, O come, Emmanuel!
Redeem thy captive Israel,
That into exile drear is gone
Far from the face of God's dear Son.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

2 O come, thou Branch of Jesse! draw
The quarry from the lion's claw;
From the dread caverns of the grave,
From nether hell thy people save.

3 O come, O come, thou Dayspring bright!
Pour on our souls thy healing light;
Dispel the long night's lingering gloom,
And pierce the shadows of the tomb.

4 O come, thou Lord of David's Key!
The royal door fling wide and free;
Safeguard for us the heavenward road,
And bar the way to death's abode.

5 O come, O come, Adonaï,
Who in thy glorious majesty
From that high mountain clothed with awe
Gavest thy folk the elder law.

If you're interested, there's a comparison of the versions here, which also links to the Advent Antiphons, on which the hymn is based.) And

ancientandmodern, who has a very good blog on hymns and their significance, reflects on the hymn here