Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#431

431. I know full well death must befall me

1 I know full well death must befall me;
I know not when, or where, or how:
It may be that my God will call me
To-day, to-morrow, even now;
Ere yet this present hour is fled,
This living body may be dead.

2 I know, --God hath this knowledge given--
To me death is not death, indeed;
To me death is a gate to heaven,
A bound and end of all my need,
A gentle evening, peaceful, blest,
When I have passed from toil to rest.

3 Lord, let my soul, with unfeigned gladness,
In living faith Thy call await
To leave its cave of sin and sadness,
And this vain world for heaven's estate;
O keep my heart prepared alway,
To lay aside this mortal clay.

4 Lord, grant that, by contrition riven,
My heart I daily offer Thee,
And let me close this life for heaven,
Sealed by Thy death and agony:
O let Thy death, with passion rife,
My comfort be, my balm and life.

5 Lord, daily let me die then, ever;
And at the last stand Thou by me,
That death may not from Thee sever,
But bring me nearer unto Thee!
Then welcome my last hour shall be,
When, where, and how it pleaseth Thee.

Text Information

• First Line: I know full well death must befall me
• Author: Solomon Franck (1711)
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
• Meter: No. 32
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: Christian Life and Hope: The Consummation: Contemplation of Death
• Notes: From the German text: Ich weiss, es wird mein Ende kommen

Tune Information

• Name: RUDOLSTADT (Wer weiss wie nahe mir mein Ende)
• Composer: Johann David Meier (1692)
• Arranger: Christian Möck (1820)
• Key: A Major