1 Him on yonder cross I love,
Naught beside on earth count dear!
May He mine for ever prove,
Who is now so inly near!
Here I stand: whate’er may come,
Days of sunshine or of gloom,
From this word I will not move;
Him upon the cross I love!
2 ’Tis not hidden from my heart,
What true love must often bring;
Want and grief have sorest smart,
Care and scorn can sharply sting;
Nay, but if Thy will were such,
Bitterest death were not too much!
Dark though here my course may prove:
Him upon the cross I love!
3 Rather sorrows such as these,
Rather love’s acutest pain,
Than without Him days of ease,
Riches false and honors vain.
Count me strange, when I am true,
What He hates I will not do;
Sneers no more my heart can move;
Him upon the cross I love!
4 Know ye whence my strength is drawn,
Fearless thus the fight to wage?
Why my heart can laugh to scorn
Fleshly weakness, Satan’s rage?
’Tis, I know the love of Christ,
Mighty is that love unpriced!
What can grieve me, what can move?
Him upon the cross I love!
5 Once the eyes that now are dim,
Shall discern the changeless love
That hath led us home to Him,
That hath crowned us far above:
Would to God that all below
What that love is now might know,
And their hearts this word approve:
Him upon the cross I love!
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #14502
Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >
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