The Cyber Hymnal ‎#6980

6980. Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower (Winkworth)

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 will 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 brought 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,
Nor for the hope of high reward—
For Thine own sake, O light divine,
So long as life is mine.

Text Information

• First Line: Thee will I love, my strength, my tower
• Title: Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower (Winkworth)
• German Title: Ich will dich lieben, meine Stärke
• Author: Johann Scheffler (1657)
• Translator (from German): Catherine Winkworth (1863, alt.)
• Meter: 98.98.86
• Language: English
• Source: Heilige Seelenlust, 1657
• Copyright: Public Domain

Tune Information

• Name: ICH WILL DICH LIEBEN
• Meter: 98.98.86
• Incipit: 13515 65432 34517
• Key: E♭ Major
• Source: Harmonischer Liederschaft (Frankfurt, Germany: 1738)
• Copyright: Public Domain