O Blessed Sun Whose Splendor

Representative Text

1 O blessed Sun whose splendor
Dispels the shades of night;
O Jesus, my Defender,
My souls' supreme delight,
Though fortune should bereave me
Of all I love the best,
If Thou Thy love still leave me,
I freely give the rest.

2 I know no life divided,
O Lord of life, from Thee;
In Thee is life provided
For all mankind and me;
I know no death, O Jesus,
Because I live in Thee;
Thy death it is which frees us
From death eternally.

3 Lord, with this truth impress me,
And write it on my heart,
To comfort, cheer, and bless me,
That Thou my Savior art.
Thy love it was which sought me,
Thyself unsought by me,
And for Thy ransom bought me
To live for aye in Thee.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #531

Author: Karl Johann Philipp Spitta

Spitta, Carl Johann Philipp, D.D., was born Aug. 1, 1801, at Hannover, where his father, Lebrecht Wilhelm Gottfried Spitta, was then living, as bookkeeper and teacher of the French language. In his eleventh year Spitta fell into a severe illness, which lasted for four years, and so threw him back that his mother (the father died in 1805) abandoned the idea of a professional career, and apprenticed him to a watchmaker. This occupation did not prove at all congenial to him, but he would not confess his dislike, and his family were ignorant of it till an old friend, who was trying to comfort him after the death of a younger brother, discovered his true feelings. The younger brother had been preparing for ordination, and so Carl was now invited… Go to person page >

Translator: Richard Massie

Massie, Richard, eldest son of the Rev. R. Massie, of Goddington, Cheshire, and Rector of Eccleston, was born at Chester, June 18, 1800, and resides at Pulford Hall, Coddington. Mr. Massie published a translation of Martin Luther’s Spiritual Songs, London, 1854. His Lyra Domestica, 1st series, London, 1860, contains translations of the 1st Series of Spitta's Psalter und Harfe. In 1864 he published vol. ii., containing translations of Spitta's 2nd Series, together with an Appendix of translations of German hymns by various authors. He also contributed many translations of German hymns to Mercer's Church Psalter & Hymn Book; to Reid's British Herald; to the Day of Rest, &c. He died Mar. 11,1887. -- John Julian, Di… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: O blessed Sun whose splendor
Title: O Blessed Sun Whose Splendor
German Title: O Jesu, meine Sonne
Author: Karl Johann Philipp Spitta
Translator: Richard Massie
Meter: 7.6.7.6.7.6.7.6
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

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Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #531

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