Hail the day that sees Him rise

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General information

This is an hymn by Charles Wesley. Originally written in 1739, it was revised by him in Festival Hymns, 1746, where it appears as Hymn 11, entitled On the ascension.

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Text and translations

English.png English text

WESLEY'S VERSION OF 1746

Hail the day that sees him rise,
Ravished from our wishful eyes!
Christ, a while to mortals given,
Re-ascends his native heaven.

There the pompous triumph waits:
Lift your heads, eternal gates!
Wide unfold the radiant scene,
Take the King of Glory in.

Circled round with angel-pow’rs,
Their triumphant Lord and ours,
Conqueror o’er death, hell, and sin,
Take the King of Glory in.

Him though highest heaven receives,
Still he loves the earth he leaves;
Though returning to his throne,
Still he calls mankind his own.

See, he lifts his hands above!
See, he shows the prints of love!
Hark, his gracious lips bestow,
Blessings on his church below!

Still for us he intercedes,
Prevalent his death he pleads;
Next himself prepares our place,
Harbinger of human race.

Master (will we ever say)
Taken from our head today,
See, thy faithful servants see,
Ever gazing up to thee!

Grant, though parted from our sight,
High above yon azure height,
Grant our hearts may thither rise,
Following thee beyond the skies.

Ever upward let us move,
Wafted on the wings of love,
Looking when our Lord shall come,
Longing, gasping after home.

There we shall with thee remain
Partners of thine endless reign;
There thy face unclouded see,
Find our heaven of heavens in thee.

 

WESLEY'S VERSION OF 1739

1 Hail the day that sees him rise,
Ravish’d from our wishful eyes;
Christ awhile to mortals given,
Re-ascends his native heaven!

2 There the pompous triumph waits,
“Lift your heads, eternal gates,
Wide unfold the radiant scene,
Take the King of Glory in!”

3 Circled round with angel powers,
Their triumphant Lord, and ours,
Conqueror over death and sin,
Take the King of Glory in!

4 Him tho’ highest heaven receives,
Still he loves the earth he leaves;
Tho’ returning to his throne,
Still he calls mankind his own.

5 See! He lifts his hands above!
See! He shews the prints of love!
Hark! His gracious lips bestow
Blessings on his church below!

6 Still for us his death he pleads;
Prevalent, he intercedes;
Near himself prepares our place,
Harbinger of human race.

7 Master, (will we ever say)
Taken from our head to-day;
See thy faithful servants, see!
Ever gazing up to thee.

8 Grant, tho’ parted from our sight,
High above yon azure height,
Grant our hearts may thither rise,
Following thee beyond the skies.

9 Ever upward let us move,
Wafted on the wings of love,
Looking when our Lord shall come,
Longing, gasping after home.

10 There we shall with thee remain,
Partners of thy endless reign,
There thy face unclouded see,
Find our heav’n of heav’ns in thee!

 

THOMAS COTTERILL (1820)

1. Hail the day that sees Him rise,
Glorious to His native skies!
Christ awhile to mortals given,
Enters now the highest heaven.

2. There the glorious triumph waits;
Lift your heads, eternal gates!
Christ hath vanquish'd death and sin,
Take the King of glory in.






3. See, the heaven its Lord receives!
Yet He loves the earth He leaves;
Though returning to His throne,
Still He calls mankind His own.






4. Still for us He intercedes;
His prevailing death He pleads;
Near Himself prepares our place,
Harbinger of human race.






5. O though parted from our sight
Far above yon azure height,
Grant our hearts may thither rise,
Seeking Thee above the skies.

 

GATHER COMPREHENSIVE (1994)

1 Hail the day that sees Him rise,
to His throne beyond the skies;
Christ, while to mortals given,
Reascends his native heav'n.

2 There for Him high triumph waits;
lift your heads, eternal gates;
He has conquered death and sin;
Take the King of glory in.






3 Highest heav'n its Lord receives,
yet He loves the earth He leaves;
though returning to His throne,
still He calls the world His own.

4 See he lifts His hands above.
See, He shows the prints of love,
Hark, his gracious lips bestow,
blessings on His church below.

5 Still for us he intercedes,
His prevailing death he pleads,
Near himself prepares our place,
He the firstfruits of our race.
















6 There we shall with him remain,
Partners of his endless reign;
There his face unclouded see,
Live with him eternally.

External links

  • See the very useful discussion at Hymnary.org [1]