Service Book and Hymnal of the Lutheran Church in America ‎#187

187. Open now thy gates of beauty

1 Open now thy gates of beauty,
Zion, let me enter there,
Where my soul in joyful duty
Waits on him who answers prayer:
O how blessed is this place,
Filled with solace, light, and grace.

2 Here, O God, I come before thee,
Come thou also down to me;
Where we find thee and adore thee,
There a heaven on earth must be:
To my heart O enter thou,
Let it be thy temple now. A-men.

3 Here thy praise is gladly chanted,
Here thy seed is duly sown;
Let my soul, where it is planted,
Bring forth precious sheaves alone:
So that all I hear may be
Fruitful unto life in me.

4 Thou my faith increase and quicken,
Let me keep thy gift divine;
Howsoe'er temptations thicken,
May thy word still o'er me shine,
As my guiding star through life,
As my comfort in my strife.

5 Speak, O God, and I will hear thee,
Let thy will be done indeed;
May I undisturbed draw near thee
While thou dost thy people feed;
Here of life the fountain flows,
Here is balm for all our woes.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Open now thy gates of beauty
• Translator: Catherine Winkworth, 1829-78
• Author: Benjamin Schmolck, 1672 - 1737
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1958
• Topic: The Church: The House of God; The Church: Worship - The Beginning of Service
• Notes: This hymn may also be sung to DANA (No. 456).

Tune Information

• Name: NEANDER (UNSER HERRSCHER)
• Composer: Joachim Neander, 1650 - 80
• Meter: 8 7, 8 7, 7 7.
• Key: C Major