182. TO MY REDEEMER
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Author: Johann Gottfried Menken (1768-1831)
Composer: Hans Georg Nägeli (1773-1836)
Author: Johann Gottfried Menken (1768-1831)
Composer: Hans Georg Nägeli (1773-1836)
1. As I think of Thee, a gentle rapture
Overwhelms the soul that Thou dost love;
This is one of those bright precious moments
Granted Thy beloved from above.
2. One long train of dark and troubled hours
Shrouded me in youthful days gone by;
Since I’ve felt Thy great, almighty powers,
Light and strength flow on me from on high.
3. Ere I knew Thee and Thy sweet compassion,
My unhappy heart sought peace in vain;
For a thousand lusts of evil fashion
Burnt within me, yielding naught but pain.
4. Full of youthful zeal, I was pursuing
Nothing but deceit and vanity;
Sham and shadow I was ever wooing,
And the truth remained unknown to me.
5. Filled with false ambition, pride, and cunning,
Wanting meekness, sense of right, and light,
Into error’s mazes I was running,
Oft unwilling, slave to sin’s dread might.
6. Were I loved and honored, thus I fancied
All this longing would be satisfied;
And these came to me in ample measure,
Yet I felt that vacant, unfilled void.
7. Shepherdless in heathers dry and barren,
As a lost and famished sheep I strayed,
Finding naught to satisfy my hunger,
Naught whereby my thirst could be allayed.
8. O, in misery I would have perished,
Crushed by great affliction and distress,
Had I not by Thee been found and cherished,
Had I not by Thy grace been refreshed.
9. What a wretched life had been my portion;
Torn by doubt, remorse and fear was I,
Till at last my faith in Thee was anchored
And Thou heardst my pleading and my cry!
10. Long a downcast spirit did depress me;
Now Thou cheerest both my heart and mind;
Only peace and happiness possess me
Since my blessed lot in Thee I find.
11. Since those sacred days of heav’nly blessing,
I can conquer over passions strong,
Over discontent and dark depression;
Heav’nly pleasure fills my breast with song.
12. Nor will there be dreary clouds above me
That will overcast my heaven’s blue
If I evermore, O Lord, will love Thee
Without discontent, to Thee be true.
13. Woe unto the world, such love despising,
That such joy in Jesus casts away;
For its value never realizing,
It is led by vanity astray!
14. O, forsake me not, Thou ever faithful,
Though to try me Thou Thy face dost hide;
Till I bear Thy likeness and impression,
Purge me as the gold is purified!
15. When my earthly life at last is finished
And in faith and love my race is run,
I shall praise Thee, Saviour, for Thy suff’ring
Which for me eternal rest has won.
Overwhelms the soul that Thou dost love;
This is one of those bright precious moments
Granted Thy beloved from above.
2. One long train of dark and troubled hours
Shrouded me in youthful days gone by;
Since I’ve felt Thy great, almighty powers,
Light and strength flow on me from on high.
3. Ere I knew Thee and Thy sweet compassion,
My unhappy heart sought peace in vain;
For a thousand lusts of evil fashion
Burnt within me, yielding naught but pain.
4. Full of youthful zeal, I was pursuing
Nothing but deceit and vanity;
Sham and shadow I was ever wooing,
And the truth remained unknown to me.
5. Filled with false ambition, pride, and cunning,
Wanting meekness, sense of right, and light,
Into error’s mazes I was running,
Oft unwilling, slave to sin’s dread might.
6. Were I loved and honored, thus I fancied
All this longing would be satisfied;
And these came to me in ample measure,
Yet I felt that vacant, unfilled void.
7. Shepherdless in heathers dry and barren,
As a lost and famished sheep I strayed,
Finding naught to satisfy my hunger,
Naught whereby my thirst could be allayed.
8. O, in misery I would have perished,
Crushed by great affliction and distress,
Had I not by Thee been found and cherished,
Had I not by Thy grace been refreshed.
9. What a wretched life had been my portion;
Torn by doubt, remorse and fear was I,
Till at last my faith in Thee was anchored
And Thou heardst my pleading and my cry!
10. Long a downcast spirit did depress me;
Now Thou cheerest both my heart and mind;
Only peace and happiness possess me
Since my blessed lot in Thee I find.
11. Since those sacred days of heav’nly blessing,
I can conquer over passions strong,
Over discontent and dark depression;
Heav’nly pleasure fills my breast with song.
12. Nor will there be dreary clouds above me
That will overcast my heaven’s blue
If I evermore, O Lord, will love Thee
Without discontent, to Thee be true.
13. Woe unto the world, such love despising,
That such joy in Jesus casts away;
For its value never realizing,
It is led by vanity astray!
14. O, forsake me not, Thou ever faithful,
Though to try me Thou Thy face dost hide;
Till I bear Thy likeness and impression,
Purge me as the gold is purified!
15. When my earthly life at last is finished
And in faith and love my race is run,
I shall praise Thee, Saviour, for Thy suff’ring
Which for me eternal rest has won.
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