Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary ‎#409

409. Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower

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 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 O 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 ev'ry 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.

Text Information

• First Line: Thee will I love, my Strength, my Tower
• Title: Thee Will I Love, My Strength, My Tower
• German Title: Ich will dich lieben, meine Stärke
• Author: J. Scheffler, 1624-77
• Translator: C. Winkworth, 1827-78 (alt.)
• Meter: 98 98 86
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1996
• Topic: Heavenly Riches; Trinity 1

Tune Information

• Name: ICH WILL DICH LIEBEN
• Meter: 98 98 86
• Key: D Major
• Source: Harmonischer Liederschatz, Frankfurt, 1738, alt.