Now at last I end this strife

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Now at last I end this strife

Author: Gerhard Tersteegen (1731); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Published in 2 hymnals

Representative Text

Now at last I end this strife,
To my God I give my life
Wholly, with a steadfast mind;
Sin I will not hearken more,
World, I turn from thee, 'tis o'er;
Not a look I'll cast behind.

Hath my heart been wavering long,
Have I dallied oft with wrong,
Now at last I firmly say,--
All my will to this I give,
Only to my God to live,
And to serve Him night and day.

Lord, I offer at Thy feet
All I have most dear and sweet,
Lo! I keep no secret hoard;
Try my heart, and lurks there aught
False within its inmost thought,
Take it hence this moment, Lord!

I will shun no toil or wo,
Where Thou leadest I will go,
Be my pathway plain or rough;
If but every hour may be
Spent in work that pleases Thee,
Ah, dear Lord, it is enough!

Thee I make my choice alone,
Make for ever, Lord, Thine own
All my powers of soul and mind;
Here I give myself away,
Let the cov'nant stand for aye
That my hand to-day hath sign'd.

Source: Chorale Book for England, The #131

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Author: Gerhard Tersteegen

Tersteegen, Gerhard, a pious and useful mystic of the eighteenth century, was born at Mörs, Germany, November 25, 1697. He was carefully educated in his childhood, and then apprenticed (1715) to his older brother, a shopkeeper. He was religiously inclined from his youth, and upon coming of age he secured a humble cottage near Mühlheim, where he led a life of seclusion and self-denial for many years. At about thirty years of age he began to exhort and preach in private and public gatherings. His influence became very great, such was his reputation for piety and his success in talking, preaching, and writing concerning spiritual religion. He wrote one hundred and eleven hymns, most of which appeared in his Spiritual Flower Garden (1731). He… 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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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Now at last I end this strife
German Title:	Nun so will ich denn mein leben
Author:	Gerhard Tersteegen (1731)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language:	English