"How Can I Thank Thee, Lord"

                            by David Denicke

           Translated by August Crull, 1845-1923

                                 Text From:

                      THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. How can I thank Thee, Lord,

        For all Thy loving-kindness,

        That Thou hast patiently

        Borne with me in my blindness?

        When dead in many sins

        And trespasses I lay,

        I kindled, holy God,

        Thine anger every day.



        2. It is Thy work alone

        That I am now converted;

        O'er Satan's work in me

        Thou hast Thy power asserted.

        Thy mercy and Thy grace

        That rise afresh each morn

        Have turned my stony heart

        Into a heart new-born.



        3. I could but grieve Thee, Lord,

        And with my sins displease Thee;

        Yet to atone for sin

        My works could not appease Thee.

        Though I could fall from grace

        And choose the way of sin,

        I had no strength to rise,

        A new life to begin.



        4. But Thou hast raised me up

        To joy and exultation

        And clearly shown the way

        That leads me to salvation.

        My sins are washed away,

        For this I thank thee, Lord;

        And with my heart and soul

        All dead works are abhorred.



        5. Grant that Thy Spirit's help

        To me be always given

        Lest I should fall again

        And lose the way to heaven;

        That He may give me strength

        In mine infirmity

        And e'er renew my heart

        To serve Thee willingly.



        6. Oh, guide and lead me, Lord,

        While here below I wander

        That I may follow Thee

        Till I shall see Thee yonder.

        For if I led myself,

        I soon would go astray;

        But if Thou leadest me,

        I keep the narrow way.



        7. O Father, God of Love,

        Hear Thou my supplication;

        O Savior, Son of God,

        Grant me Thy full salvation;

        And Thou, O Holy Ghost,

        Be Thou my faithful Guide

        That I may serve Thee here

        And there with Thee abide.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #417 from The Lutheran Hymnal

        Text: Ps. 50: 14

        Author: David Denicke, 1648, asc., ab. (vs.1-5,7)

        Author: Johann Heermann, 1630, (vs. 6)

        Translated by: August Crull, 1923

        Titled: "Was kann ich doch fuer Dank"

        Tune: "O Gott, du frommer Gott"

        1st Published in: "Neuvermehrtes Gesangbuch"

        Town: Meiningen, 1693


           

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