Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book ‎#72

72. Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light

1 LORD Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light,
My Strength by day, my Trust by night,
On earth I'm but a passing guest,
And sorely with my sins oppressed.

2 Far off I see my fatherland,
Where through Thy blood I hope to stand,
But ere I reach that Paradise,
A weary way before me lies.

3 My heart sinks at the journey's length,
My wasted flesh has little strength,
Only my soul still cries in me:
"Lord, take me home, take me to Thee!"

4 O let Thy sufferings give me power
To meet the last and darkest hour;
Thy sweat refresh and comfort me,
Thy bonds and fetters make me free!

5 The blows and stripes that fell on Thee
Heal up the wounds of sin in me;
Thy crown of thorns, Thy foes' mad spite
Let be my glory and delight!

6 That thirst and bitter draught of Thine
Help me to bear with patience mine;
Thy piercing cry uphold my soul,
When floods of anguish o'er me roll!

7 O let Thy holy wounds for me
Clefts in the rock forever be,
Where as a dove my soul can hide
And safe from Satan's rage abide.

8 And when my lips grow white and chill,
Thy Spirit cry within me still,
And help my soul Thy heaven to find,
When these poor eyes grow dark and blind!

9 And when my spirit flies away,
Thy parting words shall be my stay,
Let me depart with peaceful brow,
When I in death my head shall bow.

10 Thy cross shall be my staff in life,
Thy holy grave my rest from strife;
The winding-sheet that covered Thee,
O let it be a shroud for me.

11 Lord, from Thy nail-prints let me read
That Thou to save me hast decreed,
And grant that in Thy opened side
My troubled soul may ever hide.

12 Since Thou hast died, the Pure, the Just,
I take my homeward way in trust,
The gates of heaven, Lord, open wide,
When here I may no more abide.

13 And when the last great day shall come,
And Thou, our Judge, shalt speak the doom,
Let me with joy behold the light,
And set me then upon Thy right.

14 Renew this wasted flesh of mine,
That like the sun it there may shine
Among the angels pure and bright,
Yea, like Thyself in glorious light.

15 Ah, then I have my heart's desire,
When singing with the angels' choir,
Among the ransomed of Thy grace,
Forever I behold Thy face!

Text Information

• First Line: Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light
• Meter: L. M.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1893
• Topic: Passion
• Notes: Comp.; German: O Jesu Christ, mein's Lebens Licht - M. Behemb, 1608

Tune Information

(No tune information)