Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower - #399 - Winkworth Translation

"Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower"
by Johann Scheffler, 1624-1677

Tune: "Ich will dich lieben"

1. Thee will I love, my Strength, my Tower;
Thee will I love, my Hope, my Joy;
Thee will I love with all my power,
With ardor time shall ne'er destroy.
Thee will I love, O Light Divine,
So long as life is mine.

2. Thee will I love, my Life, my Savior,
Who art my best and truest Friend;
Thee will I love and praise forever,
For never shall Thy kindness end;
Thee will I love with all my heart,
Thou my Redeemer art.

3. I thank Thee, Jesus, Sun from heaven,
Whose radiance hath bro't light to me;
I thank Thee, who hast richly given
All that could make me glad and free;
I thank Thee that my soul is healed
By what Thy lips revealed.

4. Oh, keep me watchful, then, and humble
And suffer me no more to stray;
Uphold me when my feet would stumble,
Nor let me loiter by the way.
Fill all my nature with Thy light,
O Radiance strong and bright!

5. Oh, teach me, Lord, to love Thee truly
With soul and body, head and heart,
And grant me grace that I may duly
Practice fore'er love's sacred art.
Grant that my every thought may be
Directed e'er to Thee.

6. Thee will I love, my Crown of gladness;
Thee will I love, my God and Lord,
Amid the darkest depths of sadness,
Not for the hope of high reward--
For Thine own sake, O Light Divine,
So long as life is mine.

Hymn #399
The Lutheran Hymnal
Text: John 14:23
Author: Johann Scheffler, 1657, cento
Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Titled: "Ich will dich lieben, meine Staerke"
Tune: "Ich will dich lieben"
1st Published in: Harmonischer Liederschatz
Town: Frankfurt, 1733