I praise Thee, O my God and Father

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I praise Thee, O my God and Father

Author: Johann Mentzer (1704); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Tune: O DASS ICH TAUSEND ZUNGEN HÄTTE (Dretzel)
Published in 3 hymnals

Piano/Organ
	Ten Chorale Improvisations, Set 2

Representative Text

1 I praise Thee, O my God and Father,
For all I am and all I have,
The blessings that we daily gather,
E'en from our cradle to our grave;
For Thy rich grace hath scattered here
Whate'er we need to help and cheer.

2 I praise Thee, Savior, whose compassion
Hath brought Thee down to succor me;
Thy pitying heart sought my salvation,
Though keenest woes were heaped on Thee,
Wrought me from bondage full release,
Made me Thine own and gave me peace.

3 Thee, too, I praise, O Holy Spirit,
By whose deep teachings I am made
A heavenly kingdom to inherit,
Who art my comforter, my aid;
Whate'er of good by me is done
Is of Thy grace and light alone.

4 And as my life is onward gliding,
With each fresh scene anew I mark
How Thou art holding me and guiding,
Where all seems troubled, strange, and dark;
When cares oppress and hopes depart,
Thy light hath never failed my heart.

5 Shall I not then be filled with gladness,
Shall I not praise Thee evermore?
And triumph o'er all fears and sadness,
E'en when my cup of woe runs o'er?
Though heaven and earth may pass away,
I know Thy word stands fast for aye.

Source: The Lutheran Hymnary #10

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Author: Johann Mentzer

Mentzer, Johann, was born July 27, 1658, at Jahmen, near Rothenburg, in Silesia, and became a student of theology at Wittenberg, In 1691 he was appointed pastor at Merzdorf; in 1693 at Hauswalde, near Bischofswerda; and in 1696 at Kemnitz, near Bernstadt, Saxony. He died at Kemnitz, Feb. 24, 1734 (G. F. Otto's Lexicon . . . Oberlausizischer Schriftsteller, ii., 581; ms. from Pastor Richter of Kemnitz, &c). He was a great friend of J. C. Schwedler, of Henrietta Catherine von Gersdorf, and of N. L. von Zinzendorf, all hymnwriters, and all his near neighbours. He was himself greatly tried in the furnace of affliction. He wrote a large number of hymns, over 30 of which appeared in the various hymnbooks of his time. Many of them, especially t… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

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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First Line:	I praise Thee, O my God and Father
Author:	Johann Mentzer (1704)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Meter:	9.8.9.8.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain