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"Thou Light of Gentile Nations"
By Johann Franck, 1618-1677
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.
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #138
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"
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