"For Thee, O Dear, Dear Country"
by Bernard of Morlas, 12th century
Translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866
Text From:
THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
(St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)
1. For thee, O dear, dear country,
Mine eyes their vigils keep;
For very love, beholding
Thy happy name, they weep.
The mention of thy glory
Is unction to the breast
And medicine in sickness
And love and life and rest.
2. O one, O only mansion,
O Paradise of joy,
Where tears are ever banished
And smiles have no alloy!
The Lamb is all thy splendor,
The Crucified thy praise;
His laud and benediction
Thy ransomed people raise.
3. With jasper glow thy bulwarks,
Thy streets with em'ralds blaze;
The sardius and the topaz
Unite in thee their rays;
Thine ageless walls are bonded
With amethyst unpriced;
The saints build up thy fabric,
The cornerstone is Christ.
4. Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
Thou hast no time, bright day,
Dear fountain of refreshment
To pilgrims far away!
Upon the Rock of Ages
They raise thy holy tower;
Thine is the victor's laurel
And thine the golden dower.
5. O sweet and blessed country,
The home of God's elect!
O sweet and blessed country
That eager hearts expect!
Jesus, in mercy bring us
To that dear land of rest,
Who art, with God the Father
And Spirit, ever blest.
Notes:
Hymn #614 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
Text: Hebrews 11:16
Author: Bernard of Morlas, c. 1140, cento
Translated by: John M. Neale, 1849
Titled: "O bona patria"
Tune: "Bona patria"
1st Published in: _Sacred Hymns and Tunes_
Town: Bristol, 1876
This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
by Marilyn F. Gardner 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: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu
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