Open now Thy gates of beauty

Full Text

1 Open now thy gates of beauty;
Zion, let me enter there,
Where my soul in joyful duty
Waits for Him who answers prayer.
Oh, how blessed is this place,
Filled with solace, light, and grace!

2 Gracious God, I come before Thee;
Come Thou also unto me.
Where we find Thee and adore Thee
There a heav'n on earth must be.
To my heart, O enter Thou;
Let it be Thy temple now!

3 Here Thy praise is gladly chanted;
Here Thy seed is duly sown.
Let my soul, where it is planted,
Bring forth precious sheaves alone,
So that all I hear may be
Fruitful unto life in me.

4 Thou my faith increase and quicken;
Let me keep Thy gift divine,
Howsoe'er temptation thicken;
May Thy Word still o'er me shine
As my guiding star through life,
As my comfort in the strife.

5 Speak, O God, and I will hear Thee,
Let Thy will be done indeed.
May I undisturbed draw near Thee
While Thou dost Thy people feed.
Here of life the fountain flows;
Here is balm for all our woes.


Source: Lutheran Service Book #901

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 >

Author: Benjamin Schmolck

Schmolck, Benjamin, son of Martin Schmolck, or Schmolcke, Lutheran pastor at Brauchitzchdorf, near Liegnitz in Silesia, was born at Brauchitzchdorf, 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 the autumn of 1697, after comp… Go to person page >

Timeline

Instances

Instances (9)TextImageAudioScore
Christian Worship: a Lutheran hymnal #255Text
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #29Text
Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #30Text
Evangelical Lutheran Worship #533Image
Lutheran Service Book #901Text
Presbyterian Hymnal #489TextImage
Rejoice in the Lord #502Text
Seventh-day Adventist Hymnal #45
Trinity Hymnal #376Text