I give my heart to Thee, O Jesus most desired

Representative Text

1 I give my heart to Thee,
O Jesus most desired;
And heart for heart the gift shall be,
For Thou my soul has fired:

2 Thou hearts alone wouldst move,
Thou only hearts dost love;
I would love Thee, as Thou lov’st me,
O Jesus most desired.

3 What off’ring can I make,
Dear Lord, to love like Thine—
That Thou, the Word, didst stoop to take
A human form like mine?

4 “Give me thy heart, My son:”
Lord, Thou my heart has won;
I would love Thee as Thou lov’st me,
O Jesus most desired.

5 Thy heart is opened wide,
Its offered love most free,
That heart to heart I may abide,
And hide myself in Thee:

6 Ah, how Thy love doth burn,
Till I that love return!
I would love Thee as Thou lov’st me,
O Jesus most desired.

7 Here finds my heart its rest,
Repose that knows no shock,
The strength of love that keeps it blest
In Thee, the riven Rock:

8 My soul, as girt around,
Her citadel hath found:
I would love Thee as Thou lov’st me,
O Jesus most desired.


Source: Hymns of Consecration and Faith #85

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Translator: Ray Palmer

Ray Palmer (b. Little Compton, RI, 1808; d. Newark, NJ, 1887) is often considered to be one of America's best nineteenth-century hymn writers. After completing grammar school he worked in a Boston dry goods store, but a religious awakening prodded him to study for the ministry. He attended Yale College (supporting himself by teaching) and was ordained in 1835. A pastor in Congregational churches in Bath, Maine (1835-1850), and Albany, New York (1850-1865), he also served as secretary of the American Congregational Union (1865-1878). Palmer was a popular preacher and author, writing original poetry as well as translating hymns. He published several volumes of poetry and hymns, including Sabbath Hymn Book (1858), Hymns and Sacred Pieces (1865… Go to person page >

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Text Information

First Line: I give my heart to Thee, O Jesus most desired
Latin Title: Cor Meum Tibi Dedo
Translator: Ray Palmer
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain
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Notes

Cor meum Tibi dedo, Jesu dulcissime. [Gift of the heart to Jesus.] The authorship and date of this hymn are unknown. The text, under the heading "Ad Jesum," and in 4 stanzas of 6 lines, is in Daniel, vol. ii. p. 370; the Hymnodia Sacra, Münster, 1753, p. 152, and the Psalteriolum cantionum Catholicarum, Cologne, 1722, p. 50. Translated as—
I give my heart to Thee, by Ray Palmer. Concerning this translation Dr. Schaff says in his Christ in Song, 1869-70, that the Latin text was freely and happily reproduced by the Rev. Dr. Ray Palmer, for this collection, Aug. 20, 1868. I know of no other English version." Dr Littledale's translation, however, was published some four years before. Dr. Palmer's translation was repeated, with alterations, in the 1869 Supplement to the New Congregational Hymn Book.

-Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)

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Tune

LEOMINSTER (Martin)

George William Martin (b. London, England, 1825; d. London, 1881) composed LEOMINSTER, named for a town in the county of Hereford and Worcester (formerly Herefordshire), England. The tune was first published in The Journal of Part Music (vol. 2, 1862), in which it was titled THE PILGRIM'S SONG. Mart…

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ST. MICHAEL (Genevan)


ICH HALTE TREULICH STILL


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Favourite Hymns of the Church #414

Favourite Hymns of the Church #414
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