As a result of DS2's study of the History of Classical Music, two weeks ago we were fortunate to attend a performance of George Frederic Handel's Messiah. It was the first time the children had been to a live performance, and what a performance it was. They all thoroughly enjoyed it, especially DS2, and we have since purchased our own copy.
If you aren't familiar with Messiah, and I wasn't before we saw the performance, it tells the story of the life of Christ: the prophecies before his birth, his birth, life, death, resurrection and the revelation of his kingdom. The lyrics are simply scripture set to music and sung with powerful effect by a soprano, alto, tenor and baritone or bass with the support of a chorus.
So, for your consideration - the lyrics of
Handel’s Messiah
Part One:
- Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Isaiah 40:1
- Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished that her iniquity is pardoned . . . Isaiah 40:2
- The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Isaiah 40:3
- Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill . . . made low . . . the crooked . . . straight, and the rough places plain. Isaiah 40:4
- And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. Isaiah 40:5
- . . . Thus saith the Lord of hosts; Yet once . . . a little while, and I will shake the heavens, and the earth, . . . the sea, and the dry land; Haggai 2:6
- . . . And the desire of all nations shall come . . . Haggai 2:7
- . . . The Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. Malachi 3:1
- But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner’s fire . . . Malachi 3:2
- . . . and He shall purify the sons of Levi, . . . that they may offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Malachi 3:3
- . . . Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel, “God-with-us.” Isaiah 7:14
- O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion, get thee up into the high mountain; O thou that tellest good tidings to Jerusalem, lift up thy voice with strength; lift it up, be not afraid; say unto the cities of Judah, Behold your God! Isaiah 40:9
- Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee. Isaiah 60:1
- For behold . . . darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people; but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60:2
- And the gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. Isaiah 60:3
- The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: and they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Isaiah 9:2
- For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
- . . . There were . . . shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. Luke 2:8
- And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. Luke 2:9
- And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. Luke 2:10
- For unto us is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11
- And suddenly there was with the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying . . .
- Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will toward men. Luke 2:13,14
- Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is the righteous Saviour . . . Zechariah 9:9
- . . . and he shall speak peace unto the heathen . . . Zechariah 9:10
- Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf . . . unstopped. Isaiah 35:5
- Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb shall sing . . . Isaiah 35:6
- He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: and he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and . . . gently lead those that are with young. Isaiah 40:11
- Come unto him, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and he will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
- Take his yoke upon you, and learn of him, for he is meek and lowly of heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:29
- . . . His yoke is easy, and his burden is light. Matthew 11:30
Part Two:
- Behold, the lamb of God, that taketh away the sins of the world! John 1:29
- He was despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief . . . Isaiah 53:3
- He gave his back to the smiters, and his cheeks to them that plucked off the hair: He hid not his face from shame and spitting. Isaiah 50:6
- Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows . . . Isaiah 53:4
- . . . He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; Isaiah 53:4,5
- And with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5
- All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
- All they that see him laugh him to scorn: they shoot out their lips, and shake their heads, saying: He trusted in God that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, if he delight in him. Psalm 22:7,8
- Thy rebuke hath broken his heart; he is full of heaviness: he looked for some to have pity on him, but there was no man; neither found he any to comfort him. Psalm 69:20
- . . . Behold, and see if there be any sorrow like unto his sorrow . . . Lamentations 1:12
- . . . He was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of thy people was he stricken. Isaiah 53:8
- But thou didst not leave his soul in Hell; nor didst thou suffer thy Holy One to see corruption. Psalm 41:10
- Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
- Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
- Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
- Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Psalm 24:7,8,9,10
- . . . Unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my son, this day have I begotten thee? Hebrews 1:5
- . . . Let all the angels of God worship him. Hebrews 1:6
- Thou art gone up on high, thou hast led captivity captive: and received gifts for men; yea, even for thine enemies, that the Lord God might dwell among them. Psalm 68:18
- The Lord gave the word: great was the company of the preachers. Psalm 68:11
- . . . How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! Romans 10:15
- . . . Their sound is gone out unto all lands, and their words unto the ends of the world. Romans 10:18
- Why do the nations so furiously rage together . . . why do the people imagine a vain thing?
- The kings of the earth rise up, and the rulers take counsel, together, against the Lord, and against his Anointed . . . Psalm 2:1,2
- Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their yokes from us.
- He that dwelleth in heaven shall laugh them to scorn: the Lord shall have them in derision. Psalm 2:3,4
- Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. Psalm 2:9
- Hallelujah, for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. Revelation 19:6
- . . . The kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. Revelation 11:15
- . . . King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16
Part Three:
- . . . I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
- And though . . . worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God. Job 19:25,26
- For now is Christ risen from the dead . . . the first fruits of them that sleep. 1 Corinthians 15:20
- . . . Since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
- For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 1 Corinthians 15:21,22
- Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. 1 Corinthians 15:51







