1 O Love, who formedst me to wear
the image of thy Godhead here;
who soughtest me with tender care
through all my wanderings wild and drear;
O Love, I give myself to thee,
thine ever, only thine to be.
2 O Love, who ere life’s earliest dawn
on me thy choice hast gently laid;
O Love, who here as Man wast born,
And wholly like to us wast made:
O Love, I give myself to thee,
thine ever, only thine to be.
3 O Love, who once in time wast slain,
pierced through and through with bitter woe;
O Love, who wrestling thus didst gain
that we eternal joy might know:
O Love, I give myself to thee,
thine ever, only thine to be.
4 O Love, who once shalt bid me rise
from out this dying life of ours;
O Love, who once o’er yonder skies
shalt set me in the fadeless bowers;
O Love, I give myself to thee,
thine ever, only thine to be.
Source: CPWI Hymnal #459
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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