Be present with thy servants, Lord

Representative Text

1 Be present with your servants, Lord,
we look to you with one accord;
refresh and strengthen us anew,
and bless what in your name we do.

2 O teach us all your perfect will
to understand and to fulfill;
when human insight fails, give light;
this will direct our steps aright.

3 The Lord’s joy be our strength and stay
in our employ from day to day;
our thoughts and our activity
through Jesus’ merits hallowed be.

Source: Moravian Book of Worship #734

Translator: Lewis Renatus West

Lewis Renatus West, born in London, May 3, 1753, and Moravian Minister at Tytherton, Wilts, from 1809 to his death, Aug. 4, 1826. --Excerpt from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, Appendix, Part II (1907)… Go to person page >

Author: Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf

Zinzendorf, Count Nicolaus Ludwig, the founder of the religious community of Herrnhut and the apostle of the United Brethren, was born at Dresden May 26, 1700. It is not often that noble blood and worldly wealth are allied with true piety and missionary zeal. Such, however, was the case with Count Zinzendorf. In 1731 Zinzendorf resigned all public duties and devoted himself to missionary work. He traveled extensively on the Continent, in Great Britain, and in America, preaching "Christ, and him crucified," and organizing societies of Moravian brethren. John Wesley is said to have been under obligation to Zinzendorf for some ideas on singing, organization of classes, and Church government. Zinzendorf was the author of some two thousand hymn… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Be present with thy servants, Lord
Original Language: German
Translator: Lewis Renatus West
Author: Nicolaus Ludwig, Graf von Zinzendorf
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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Moravian Book of Worship #734

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