Evangelical Lutheran hymnal ‎#55

55. Light of the Gentile nations

1 Light of the Gentile nations,
Thy people's joy and love,
Drawn by Thy Spirit hither,
We gladly come to prove
Thy presence in Thy temple,
And wait with earnest mind
As Simeon once had waited
His Savior God to find.

2 Yes, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee,
E'en now, in ev'ry place,
Where Thy true Word has promised,
That they should see Thy face.
Thou yet wilt gently grant us,
Who gather round Thee here,
In faith's strong arms to bear Thee,
As once that aged seer.

3 Be Thou our joy, our brightness,
That shines 'mid pain and loss,
Our sun in times of terror,
The glory round our cross,
A glow in sinking spirits,
A sunbeam in distress,
Physician, friend in sickness,
In death our happiness.

4 Let us, O Lord, be faithful
With Simeon to the end,
So that his dying song may
From all our hearts ascend:
"O Lord, now let Thy servant
Depart in peace, I pray,
Since I have seen my Savior,
And have beheld His day."

5 My Savior, I behold Thee
Now with the eye of faith;
No foe of Thee can rob me,
Though bitter words he saith;
Within Thy heart abiding,
As Thou dost dwell in me,
No pain, no death has terrors
To part my soul from Thee!

Text Information

• First Line: Light of the Gentile nations
• Author: Martin Franck (1606)
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
• Meter: No. 13
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1908
• Topic: The Church Year: Presentation
• Notes: From the German Text: Herr Jesu Licht der Heiden

Tune Information

• Name: TESCHNER (Valet will ich dir geben)
• Composer: Melchior Teschner (1613)
• Meter: No. 13
• Key: C Major