Hymnal and Order of Service ‎#9

9. Oh! How Shall I Receive Thee?

1 Oh! how shall I receive Thee,
How greet Thee, Lord, aright?
All nations long to see Thee,
My Hope, my heart's Delight!
Oh! kindle, Lord most holy,
Thy lamp within my breast.
To do in spirit lowly
All that may please Thee best.

2 Thy Zion palms is strewing,
And branches fresh and fair;
My heart, its powers renewing.
An anthem shall prepare.
My soul puts off her sadness
Thy glories to proclaim;
With all her strength and gladness
She fain would serve Thy Name.

3 I lay in fetters groaning,
Thou com'st to set me free:
I stood, my shame bemoaning,
Thou com'st to honor me.
A glory Thou dost give me,
A treasure safe on high,
That will not fail nor leave me
As earthly riches fly.

4 Love caused Thine incarnation,
Love brought Thee down to me;
Thy thirst for my salvation
Procured my liberty.
Oh, love beyond all telling,
That led Thee to embrace,
In love all love excelling,
Our lost and fallen race!

5 Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,
Who sit in deepest gloom,
Who mourn o'er joys departed,
And tremble at your doom:
He who alone can cheer you,
Is standing at the door;
He brings His pity near you,
And bids you weep no more.

Amen.

Text Information

• First Line: Oh! how shall I receive Thee
• Title: Oh! How Shall I Receive Thee?
• Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676 (1653)
• Meter: 7 6, 7 6. D.
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1901
• Topic: Advent

Tune Information

• Name: O, DU MITT HJÄRTAS TRÄNGTAN
• Composer: J. C. F. Haeffner, 1759-1833
• Meter: 7 6, 7 6. D.