"O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee"

                   by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

                                 Text From:

                      THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. O Lord, how shall I meet Thee,

        How welcome Thee aright?

        Thy people long to greet Thee,

        My Hope, my heart's Delight!

        O kindle, Lord, most holy,

        Thy lamp within my breast

        To do in spirit lowly

        All that may please Thee best.



        2. Thy Zion strews before Thee

        Green boughs and fairest palms,

        And I, too, will adore Thee

        With joyous songs and psalms.

        My heart shall bloom forever

        For Thee with praises new

        And from Thy name shall never

        Withhold the honor due.



        3. I lay in fetters, groaning,

        Thou com'st to set me free;

        I stood, my shame bemoaning,

        Thou com'st to honor me;

        A glory Thou dost give me,

        A treasure safe on high,

        That will not fail or leave me

        As earthly riches fly.



        4. Love caused Thy incarnation,

        Love brought Thee down to me;

        Thy thirst for my salvation

        Procured my liberty.

        O love beyond all telling,

        That led Thee to embrace,

        In love all love excelling,

        Our lost and fallen race!



        5. Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,

        Who sit in deepest gloom,

        Who mourn o'er joys departed

        And tremble at your doom.

        Despair not, He is near you,

        Yea, standing at the door,

        Who best can help and cheer you

        And bids you weep no more.



        6. Ye need not toil nor languish

        Nor ponder day and night

        How in the midst of anguish

        Ye draw Him by your might.

        He comes, He comes all willing,

        Moved by His love alone,

        Your woes and troubles stilling;

        For all to Him are known.



        7. Sin's debt, that fearful burden,

        Let not your souls distress;

        Your guilt the Lord will pardon

        And cover by His grace.

        He comes, for men procuring

        The peace of sin forgiven,

        For all God's sons securing

        Their heritage in heaven.



        8. What though the foes be raging,

        Heed not their craft and spite;

        Your Lord, the battle waging,

        Will scatter all their might.

        He comes, a King most glorious,

        And all His earthly foes

        In vain His course victorious

        Endeavor to oppose.



        9. He comes to judge the nations,

        A terror to His foes,

        A Light of consolations

        And blessed Hope to those

        Who love the Lord's appearing.

        O glorious Sun, now come,

        Send forth Thy beams so cheering,

        An guide us safely home.



        
Notes: Hymn #58 from The Lutheran Hymnal Text: Matt. 21: 1-9 Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1653, cento Translated by: composite Titled: Wie soll ich dich empfangen Composer: Melchior Teschner, 1613 Tune: Valet will ich dir geben
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