Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book ‎#55

55. Light of the Gentile nations

1 LIGHT of the Gentile nations,
Thy people's Joy and Love!
Drawn by Thy Spirit hither,
We gladly come to prove
Thy presence in Thy temple,
And wait with earnest mind,
As Simeon once had waited
His Saviour God to find.

2 Yes, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee,
E'en now, in every place
Where Thy true Word hath promised
That they should see Thy face.
Thou yet wilt gladly grant us,
Who gather round Thee here,
In faith's strong arms to bear Thee,
As once that aged seer.

3 Be Thou our Joy, our Brightness,
That shines 'mid pain and loss,
Our Sun in times of terror,
The Glory round our cross;
A Glow in sinking spirits,
A Sunbeam in distress,
Physician, Friend in sickness;
In death, our Happiness.

4 Let us, O Lord, be faithful
With Simeon to the end,
So that his dying song may
From all our hearts ascend:
"O Lord, now let Thy servant
Depart in peace, I pray,
Since I have seen my Saviour,
And here beheld His day."

5 My Saviour, I behold Thee
Now with the eye of faith;
No foe of Thee can rob me,
Though bitter words he saith:
Within Thy heart abiding,
As thou dost dwell in me,
No pain, no death has terrors
To part my soul from Thee.

6 Lord, here on earth Thou seemest
At times to frown on me,
And through my tears I often
Can scarce distinguish Thee;
But in the heavenly mansions
Shall nothing dim my sight,
And I shall see forever
Thine always glorious light.

Text Information

• First Line: Light of the Gentile nations
• Meter: 7, 6.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1893
• Topic: Presentation
• Notes: C. Winkworth, Tr. a.; German: Herr Jesu, Light der Heiden - J. Franck, 1674

Tune Information

(No tune information)