Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
MILWAUKEE8.8.8.8.8.8.6.6
Words: Georg WeisselTranslated by Catherine Winkworth, 1855Music: MILWAUKEE, August Lemke, 1849
Practice player: melody only, played by your browser. The intro is the closing line of the tune, as many churches play it. Melody from the Open Hymnal Project (public domain).
Words
Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates!
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Savior of the world is here;
Life and salvation doth He bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
We praise Thee, Father, now!
Creator, wise art Thou!
The Lord is just, a Helper tried,
Mercy is ever at His side,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His scepter, pity in distress,
The end of all our woe He brings;
Wherefore the earth is glad and sings:
We praise Thee, Savior, now!
Mighty in deed art Thou!
O blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confessed!
O happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
The cloudless Sun of joy He is,
Who bringeth pure delight and bliss.
O Comforter divine,
What boundless grace is Thine!
Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heav'ns employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy;
So shall your Sovereign enter in,
and new and nobler life begin;
To Thee, O God, be praise,
For Word, and deed, and grace!
Redeemer, come! I open wide
My heart to Thee; here, Lord, abide!
Let me Thy inner presence feel,
Thy grace and love in me reveal.
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on,
Until our glorious goal be won!
Eternal praise and fame
We offer to Thy Name.
Scripture
The Bible passages this hymn draws on, in the King James Version.
Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter.
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.
Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.
Suggested for these Masses
- 1st Sunday of Advent, Year B Nov 29, 2026
- 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year B Dec 6, 2026
- 4th Sunday of Advent, Year B Dec 20, 2026
- 1st Sunday of Advent, Year C Nov 28, 2027
- 2nd Sunday of Advent, Year C Dec 5, 2027
- 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year C Dec 12, 2027
Related hymns
- Lo! He Comes With Clouds DescendingLo! He comes with clouds descending
- Creator of the Stars of NightCreator of the stars of night
- O Come, O Come, EmmanuelO come, O come, Emmanuel
- Savior of the Nations ComeSavior of the nations, come
- The King Shall ComeThe King shall come when morning dawns
- Come, Thou Long-Expected JesusCome, Thou long expected Jesus