Hymns and Devotions for Daily Worship ‎#13

13. Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates

1. Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates,
Behold the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near,
The Saviour of the world is here;
Life and salvation doth he bring,
Wherefore rejoice and gladly sing:
We praise thee, Father, now!
Creator, wise art Thou!

2. The Lord is just, a Helper tried,
Mercy is ever at his side,
His kingly crown is holiness,
His sceptre, pity in distress,
The end of all our woe he brings;
Wherefore the Earth is glad and sings:
We praise Thee, Saviour, now!
Mighty in deed art Thou!

3. Oh blest the land, the city blest,
Where Christ the Ruler is confest!
Oh, happy hearts and happy homes
To whom this King in triumph comes!
The cloudless Sun of joy he is,
Who bringeth pure delight and bliss:
O Comforter Divine,
What boundless grace is Thine!

4. Fling wide the portals of your heart,
Make it a temple set apart
From earthly use for Heav'n's employ,
Adorn'd with prayer and love and joy;
So shall your Sovereign enter in,
And new and nobler life begin:
To thee, O God, be praise,
For word and deed and grace!

5. Redeemer, come, and open wide
My heart to Thee—here, Lord, abide!
Let me thine inner presence feel,
Thy grace and love in me reveal,
Thy Holy Spirit guide us on
Until our glorious goal is won!
Eternal praise the same
We offer to Thy name.

Text Information

• First Line: Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates
• Title: Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
• Original Language: German
• Author: Georg Weissel (1642)
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1855)
• Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8.6.6
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 2024
• Scripture:
  Psalm 24:7
• Topic: Advent
• Notes: Text by Georg Weissel, “Macht hoch die Tür, die Tor macht weit,” from Der Preussichen Fest-Lieder (1642); tr. by Catherine Winkworth for Lyra Germanica (1855), rev. for Chorale Book for England (1863).

Tune Information

• Name: MACHT HOCH DIE TÜR, DIE TOR MACHT WEIT
• Meter: 8.8.8.8.8.8.6.6
• Key: F Major or modal
• Source: J.A. Freylinghausen's Geist-reiches Gesang-Buch, 1704; arr. The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941
• Notes: Tune MACHT HOCH DIE TÜR, DIE TOR MACHT WEIT from J.A. Freylinghausen’s <cite>Geist-reiches Gesang-Buch</cite> (1704), arr. as in <cite>The Lutheran Hymnal</cite> (1941).