"Thou Light of Gentile Nations"

                  By Johann Franck, 1618-1677

                                 Text From:

                      THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. Thou Light of Gentile nations,

        Thou Savior from above,

        Drawn by Thy Spirit's leading,

        We come with joy and love

        Into Thy holy temple

        And wait with earnest mind

        As Simeon had waited

        His God and Lord to find.



        2. Yea, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee,

        In every holy place

        Where Thy true Word has promised

        That we should see Thy face.

        Today Thou still dost grant us

        Who gather round Thee here

        In arms of faith to bear Thee

        As did that aged seer.



        3.Be Thou our Joy and Brightness,

        Our Cheer in pain and loss,

        Our Sun in darkest terror,

        The Glory round our cross,

        A Star for sinking spirits,

        A Beacon in distress,

        Physician, Friend, in sickness,

        In death our Happiness.



        4. Let us, O Lord, be faithful

        Like Simeon to the end,

        So that his prayer exultant

        May from our hearts ascend:

        "O Lord, now let Thy servant

        Depart in peace, I pray,

        Since I have seen my Savior

        And here beheld His day."



        5. My Savior, I behold Thee

        With faith's enlightened eye;

        Of Thee no foe can rob me,

        His threats I can defy.

        Within Thy heart abiding,

        As Thou, O Lord, in me,

        Death can no longer frighten

        Nor part my soul from Thee.



        6. Lord, here on earth Thou seemest

        At times to frown on me,

        And through my tears I often

        Can scarce distinguish Thee;

        But in the heavenly mansions

        Shall nothing dim my sight;

        There shall I see Thy glory

        In never-changing light.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #138 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Luke 2:32

        Author: Johann Franck, 1674

        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.

        Titled: "Herr Jesu, Licht der Heiden"

        Composer: Melchior Teschner, 1613

        Tune: "Valet will ich dir geben"