Veni O Sapientia
- excerpt from A New Book of Old Hymns (pdf)
- video (external link)
- Crossword Puzzle (pdf) plus a shorter web Online Crossword Puzzle (html)
- Quizlet set (external link)
- Spotify playlist (external link)
Probably better known as Veni, Veni Emmanuel - a hymn version of the O Antiphons - the antiphons for the Magnificat for Vespers (evening prayer) for the last seven days of Advent.
The Sapientia verse is sung first, so I’ve set it first, but if you do put the verses backwards you get this anagram:
- Emmanuel
- Rex Gentium
- Oriens
- Clavis Davidica
- Radix Jesse (except the metric version uses “Virgula” instead of “Radix”)
- Sapientia
Which spells out ERO CRAS which means I’m coming tomorrow.
1
Veni O Sapientia, quae hic disponis omnia
Veni O Sapientia, quae hic disponis omnia
come O wisdom, who this disposes all
O Come thou Wisdom, who disposes all things
veni viam prudentiae, ut doceas et gloriae
veni viam prudentiae, ut doceas et gloriae
come {the way} {of prudence} that teaches and {of glory}
come, who teaches the way of prudence and glory
Chorus
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel Nascetur pro te Israel
Gaude! Gaude! Emmanuel Nascetur pro te Israel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel {is born} for thee Israel
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel is born for thee O Israel
2
Veni, veni, Adonai, Qui populo in Sinai
Veni, veni, Adonai, Qui populo in Sinai
come, come Lord who {to the people} in Sinai
O come Lord ...
Legem dedisti vertice, In majestate gloriæ.
Legem dedisti vertice, In majestate gloriæ.
{the law} {you gave} {from the pinnacle} in majesty glory
gave the law from the top of Mt Sinai to the people in majesty and glory
3
Veni, O Jesse Virgula; Ex hostis tuos ungula,
Veni, O Jesse Virgula; Ex hostis tuos ungula,
come O Jesse branch from enemies thy claws
O come, branch of the tree of Jesse,
De specu tuos tartari Educ, et antro barathri.
De specu tuos tartari Educ, et antro barathri.
from {cave/sight?} thy {of the infernal regions} {take out} and {from the cave} {of the underworld}
take us out of the claws of the enemies and all hell-type places
4
Veni, Clavis Davidica, Regna reclude cælica,
Veni, Clavis Davidica, Regna reclude cælica,
come, key {of David} kingdoms open heavenly
Come, key of David, open heavenly kingdoms
Fac iter tutum supernum, Et claude vias inferum.
Fac iter tutum supernum, Et claude vias inferum.
make {the way} {a safe place} above and close {the ways} below
Make safe the way that leads on high and close the path to misery
5
Veni, veni, O Oriens; Solare nos adveniens;
Veni, veni, O Oriens; Solare nos adveniens;
come, come o {rising sun} comfort us arriving
Come, thou Day star, cheer us by thy coming
Noctis depelle nebulas Dirasque noctis tenebras
Noctis depelle nebulas Dirasque noctis tenebras
{of night} dispel fog {and the dire} {of night} darkness
dispel the gloomy clouds of night, and death's dark shadows put to flight
6
Veni, veni, Rex gentium Veni, Redemptor omnium.
Veni, veni, Rex gentium Veni, Redemptor omnium.
come, come King {of nations} come redeemer {of all}
Come, King of nations, Redeemer of all
Ut salvas tuos famulos Peccati sibi conscios.
Ut salvas tuos famulos Peccati sibi conscios.
that {you save} thy servants sins {to itself} conscious
save thy servants concious of their own sin
7
Veni, veni Emmanuel; Captivum solve Israel
Veni, veni Emmanuel; Captivum solve Israel
come, come Emmanuel captives release Israel
O Come Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel
Qui gemit in exilio Privatus Dei filio.
Qui gemit in exilio Privatus Dei filio.
who mourns in exile deprived {of God} {to the Son}
that mourns in lonely exile here, until the Son of God appear
with apologies to J M Neale and all those who have done much better attempts at translations!