John Francis Wade (1711-1786) is the probable author and composer of the great carol Adeste Fideles. Although the weight of evidence favors this, the attribution is not entirely certain, and there have been numerous other suggestions, including St Bonaventure in the 13th century, and King John IV of Portugal in the 17th.

In the original Latin there are four stanzas. Others have been added later: three late in the 18th century by Abbe Étienne Borderies, and an eighth stanza by an unknown author was added later still and is almost never sung. The original four stanzas were translated by Frederick Oakeley (1802-1880).

Wade’s original four stanzas become 1, 2, 3, and 7 when the three additional stanzas by Borderies are included. Oakeley’s translation of the second stanza is a bit clumsy and doesn’t scan as well as the original Latin; still, the classic Nicene theology of the incarnation comes through very clearly. Most English language hymnbooks print, and most people sing, only stanzas 1, 3, and 7.

1. O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant,
O come ye, O come ye, to Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him, born the King of angels;

     Refrain:

         O come, let us adore Him,
         O come, let us adore Him,
         O come, let us adore Him,
         Christ the Lord.

2. True God of true God, Light from Light Eternal,
Lo, He shuns not the Virgin’s womb;
Son of the Father, begotten, not created;

3. Sing, choirs of angels, sing in exultation;
O sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God, all glory in the highest;

4. See how the shepherds, summoned to His cradle,
Leaving their flocks, draw nigh to gaze;
We too will thither bend our joyful footsteps;

5. Lo! star-led chieftains, Magi, Christ adoring,
Offer Him incense, gold, and myrrh;
We to the Christ Child bring our hearts’ oblations.

6. Child, for us sinners poor and in the manger,
We would embrace Thee, with love and awe;
Who would not love Thee, loving us so dearly?

7. Yea, Lord, we greet Thee, born this happy morning;
Jesus, to Thee be all glory given;
Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing.

Enya singing stanzas 1, 2, and the final line of stanza 3, in the original Latin.