What Does the Hymn Really Say? Advent Lauds

6^th Century Advent Hymn form the Monastic Diurnal

VOX clara ecce intonat,

obscura quaeque increpat:

pellantur eminus somnia;

ab aethere Christus promicat.

Behold a glorious voice resounds

Rebuking whatever is dark

Dreams are driven far away

Christ from the sky shines forth 

Mens iam resurgat torpida

quae sorde exstat saucia;

sidus refulget iam novum,

ut tollat omne noxium.

Now the sleepy mind arises

Which is wounded by sin

Now the new star shines

To take away all harm       

E sursum Agnus mittitur

laxare gratis debitum;

omnes pro indulgentia

vocem demus cum lacrimis,

From above the Lamb is sent

To loose with graces the debt

For forgiveness let us all

Give voice with tears.        

Secundo ut cum fulserit

mundumque horror cinxerit,

non pro reatu puniat,

sed nos pius tunc protegat.

That when a second time he comes

And dread grips the world

He not punish (our) guilt

But then lovingly protect us.     

1. vox the voice of St. John Baptist. cf. line 9 Agnus (Dei)

3. Somnia could mean vain, harmful dreams as it is often translated but also simply dreams which disappear when one wakes.

12. Noxium as often in the hymns of Lauds and Vespers means  ‘harm’ and but refers also to ‘night’
5.7. 16. iam ...iam...tunc: now . . . now .... and finally then of the Second Coming.

Any corrections are welcome.