"Rise, Thou Light of Gentile Nations"
                          by Hermann Fick, 1822-1885
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. Rise, Thou Light of Gentile nations,
        Jesus, bright and Morning Star;
        Let Thy Word, the gladsome tidings,
        Ring out loudly near and far,
        Bringing freedom to the captives,
        Peace and comfort to the slave,
        That the heathen, free from bondage,
        May proclaim Thy pow'r to save.

        2. See the blindness of the heathen,
        Strangers to Thy glorious light,
        Straying hopeless till they find Thee,
        Wand'ring aimless in the night.
        See their pitiful condition;
        Lo, gross darkness covers all,
        And no ray of hope refreshes
        Nor dispels the dreadful pall.

        3. If Thou, merciful Redeemer,
        Hadst not saved us from this plight,
        In like darkness we should languish
        Hopeless, helpless, in sin's night.
        Lovingly Thou, Lord, didst seek us
        In the beauty of Thy grace;
        Now with joy we freely serve Thee,
        We, Thy blessed, chosen race.

        4. Knowing Thee and Thy salvation,
        Grateful love dare never cease
        To proclaim Thy tender mercies,
        Gracious Lord, Thy heav'nly peace.
        Sound we forth the Gospel tidings
        To the earth's remotest bound
        That the sinner has been pardoned
        And forgiveness can be found.

        5. May our zeal to help the heathen
        Be increased from day to day
        As we plead in true compassion
        And for their conversion pray.
        For the many faithful heralds,
        For the Gospel they proclaim,
        Let us all be cheerful givers
        To the glory of Thy name.

        6. Savior, shine in all Thy glory
        On the nations near and far;
        From the highways and the byways
        Call them, O Thou Morning Star.
        Guide them whom Thy grace hath chosen
        Out of Satan's dreadful thrall
        To the mansions of Thy Father--
        There is room for sinners all.

        

        Notes:
        Hymn #498 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Isaiah 60:1
        Author: Hermann Fick, d. 1885
        Titled: "Gehe auf, du Trost der Heiden"
        Tune: "O du Liebe"
        1st Published in:  _Musikalischer Christenschatz_
        Town: Basel, 1745