Let who will in thee rejoice

Representative Text

Let who will in thee rejoice,
O thou fair and wondrous earth!
Ever anguished sorrow's voice
Pierces through thy seeming mirth;
Let thy vain delights be given
Unto them who love not Heaven,
My desire is fixed on Thee,
Jesus, dearest far to me!

Weary souls with toil outworn,
Drooping 'neath the glaring light,
Wish that soon the coming morn
Might be quenched again in night,
That their toils might find a close
In a soft and deep repose;
I but wish to rest in Thee,
Jesus, dearest far to me!

Others dare the treacherous wave,
Hidden rock and shifting wind—
Storm and danger let them brave,
Earthly good or wealth to find;
Faith shall wing my upward flight
Far above yon starry height,
Till I find myself with Thee,
Jesus, dearest Friend to me!

Many a time ere now I said,
Many a time again shall say,
Would to God that I were dead,
Would that in my grave I lay!
Rest were mine, and sweet my lot
Where the body hindereth not,
And the soul can ever be,
Jesus, dearest Lord, with Thee!

Come, O Death, thou twin of Sleep,
Lead me hence,--I pray thee come,
Loose my rudder, through the deep
Guide my vessel safely home.
Thy approach who will may fly,
'Twere a joy to me to die,
Death but opes the gates to Thee,
Jesus, dearest Friend to me!

Would that I today might leave
This my earthly prison here,
And my crown of joy receive
Waiting me in yon bright sphere!
In that home of joy, where dwell
Hosts of angels, would I tell
How the Godhead shines in Thee,
Jesus, dearest Lord to me!

But not yet the gates of gold
I may see nor enter in,
Nor the heavenly fields behold,
But must sit and mourning spin
Life's dark thread on earth below;
Let my thoughts then hourly go
Whither I myself would be,
Jesus, dearest Lord, with Thee!

Source: Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year #74

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Johann Franck

Johann Franck (b. Guben, Brandenburg, Germany, 1618; d. Guben, 1677) was a law student at the University of Köningsberg and practiced law during the Thirty Years' War. He held several positions in civil service, including councillor and mayor of Guben. A significant poet, second only to Paul Gerhardt in his day, Franck wrote some 110 hymns, many of which were published by his friend Johann Crüger in various editions of the Praxis Pietatis melica. All were included in the first part of Franck’s Teutsche Gedichte bestehend im geistliche Sion (1672). Bert Polman… 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 >

^ top

Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Let who will in thee rejoice
German Title:	Du o schönes Weltgebäude
Author:	Johann Franck (1653)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1855)
Meter:	7.7.7.7
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain