Light of Light, Enlighten Me

Representative Text

1 Light of light, enlighten me,
now anew the day is dawning;
sun of grace, the shadows flee;
brighten thou my Sabbath morning;
with thy joyous sunshine blest,
happy is my day of rest.

2 Fount of all our joy and peace,
to thy living waters lead me;
thou from earth my soul release,
and with grace and mercy feed me;
bless thy Word, that it may prove
rich in fruits that thou dost love.

3 Kindle thou the sacrifice,
that upon my lips is lying;
clear the shadows from mine eyes,
that, from every error flying,
no strange fire may in me glow
that thine altar doth not know.

4 Let me with my heart today,
"Holy, holy, holy" singing,
rapt awhile from earth away,
all my soul to thee up-springing,
have a foretaste inly giv'n
how they worship thee in heav'n.

5 Hence all care, all vanity,
for the day to God is holy;
come, thou glorious Majesty,
deign to fill this temple lowly;
naught today my soul shall move,
simply resting in thy love.


Source: Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #397

Author: Benjamin Schmolck

Schmolck, Benjamin, son of Martin Schmolck, or Schmolcke, Lutheran pastor at Brauchitschdorf (now Chrόstnik) near Liegnitz in Silesia (now Poland) was born at Brauchitschdorf, Dec. 21, 1672. He entered the Gymnasium at Lauban in 1688, and spent five years there. After his return home he preached for his father a sermon which so struck the patron of the living that he made Benjamin an allowance for three years to enable him to study theology. He matriculated, at Michaelmas, 1693, at the University of Leipzig, where he came under the influence of J. Olearius, J. B. Carpzov, and others, and throughout his life retained the character of their teaching, viz. a warm and living practical Christianity, but Churchly in tone and not Pietistic. In th… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Light of light, enlighten me
Title: Light of Light, Enlighten Me
German Title: Licht vom Licht erleuchte mich
Author: Benjamin Schmolck (1731)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Meter: 7.8.7.8.7.7
Language: English
Notes: Spanish translation: See "Luz de vida, alúmbrame" by George Paul Simmonds
Copyright: Public Domain

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Church Hymnal, Mennonite #175

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Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #389

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Trinity Hymnal (Rev. ed.) #397

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The Cyber Hymnal #3795

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