"Yea, as I Live, Jehovah Saith"

                          by Nikolaus Herman

            Translated by Matthias Loy, 1828-1915

                                 Text From:

                      THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. Yea, as I live, Jehovah saith,

        I would not have the sinner's death,

        But that he turn from error's ways,

        Repent, and live through endless days.



        2. To us therefore Christ gave command:

        "Go forth and preach in every land;

        Bestow on all My pardoning grace

        Who will repent and mend their ways.



        3. "All those whose sins ye thus remit

        I truly pardon and acquit,

        And those whose sins ye do retain

        Condemned and guilty shall remain.



        4. "What ye shall bind, that bound shall be:

        What ye shall loose, that shall be free;

        Unto My  Church the keys are given

        To ope and close the gates of heaven."



        5. The words which absolution give

        Are His who died that we might live;

        The minister whom Christ has sent

        Is but His humble instrument.



        6. When ministers lay on their hands,

        Absolved by Christ the sinner stands;

        He who by grace the Word believes

        The purchase of His blood receives.



        7. All praise, eternal Son, to Thee

        For absolution full and free,

        In which Thou showest forth Thy grace;

        From false indulgence guard our race.



        8. Praise God the Father and the Son

        And Holy Spirit, Three in One,

        As 'twas, is now, and so shall be

        World without end, eternally!



        
Notes: Hymn #331 from The Lutheran Hymnal Text: Ezek. 33:11 Author: Nikolaus Herman, 1560, cento Translated by: Matthias Loy, 1880, alt. Titled: "So wahr ich leb', spricht Gott der Herr" Composer: Jeremiah Clarke, 1707 Tune: "St. Luke"
This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.
E-mail: CFWLibrary@CRF.CUIS.EDU, Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 481-2123 Fax: (219) 481-2126

Converted to HTML by Nelson Chin for the Christian Classics Ethereal Library.