Jesus, pitying Saviour, hear me

Full Text

Jesus, pitying Saviour, hear me,
Draw Thou near me,
Turn Thee, Lord, in grace to me;
For Thou knowst all my sorrow,
Night and morrow
Doth my cry go up to Thee.

Sin of courage hath bereft me,
And hath left me
Scarce a spark of faith or hope;
Bitter tears my heart oft sheddeth
As it dreadeth
I am past Thy mercy's scope.

Peace I cannot find, oh take me,
Lord, and make me
From the yoke of evil free;
Calm this longing never-sleeping,
Still my weeping,
Grant me hope once more in Thee.

Lord, wilt Thou be wroth for ever?
Oh deliver
Me from all I most deserved;
'Tis Thyself, dear Lord, hast sought me,
Thou hast taught me
Thee to seek from whom I swerved.

Thou, my God and King, hast known me,
Yet hast shown me
True and loving is Thy will;
Though my heart from Thee oft ranges,
Through its changes,
Lord, Thy love is faithful still.

Bless my trials thus to sever
Me for ever
From the love of self and sin;
Let me through them see Thee clearer,
Find Thee nearer,
Grow more like to Thee within.

In the patience that Thou lendest
All Thou sendest
I embrace, I will be still;
Bend this stubborn heart, I pray Thee,
To obey Thee,
Calmly waiting on Thy will.

Here I bring my will, oh take it,
Thine, Lord, make it,
Calm this troubled heart of mine;
In Thy strength I too may conquer,
Wait no longer,
Show in me Thy grace Divine.

The Chorale Book for England, 1863

Author: Gerhard Tersteegen

Gerhardt Tersteegen or ter Stegen, was born at Moers, Netherlands, November 25, 1697. He was destined for the Reformed ministry, but after his father's death when the boy was only six, his mother was unable to send him to the university. He studied at the Gymnasium in Moers, and then earned a meager living as a silk weaver, sharing his frugal daily fare with the poor. Malnutrition and privation undermined his health to such an extent that he suffered a serious depression for some five years, following which he wrote a new covenant with God, signing it in his own blood. A strong mystic, he did not attend the services of the Reformed Church after 1719. Although forming no sect of his own, he became well known as a religious teacher and l… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth is "the most gifted translator of any foreign sacred lyrics into our tongue, after Dr. Neale and John Wesley; and in practical services rendered, taking quality with quantity, the first of those who have laboured upon German hymns. Our knowledge of them is due to her more largely than to any or all other translators; and by her two series of Lyra Germanica, her Chorale Book, and her Christian Singers of Germany, she has laid all English-speaking Christians under lasting obligation." --Annotations of the Hymnal, Charles Hutchins, M.A., 1872… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Jesus, pitying Saviour, hear me
German Title: Jesu, mein Erbarmer, hoere
Author: Gerhard Tersteegen (1731)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language: English

Timeline

Instances

Instances (4)TextImageAudioScore
Chorale Book for England, The #109TextImage
Hymnal of the Presbyterian Church #462Image
Hymns of the Christian Centuries #150Image
Songs of the Soul: gathered out of many lands and ages #257bImage