Lutheran Book of Worship ‎#491

491. O God, I Love Thee

1 O God, I love thee; not that my poor love
May win me entrance to thy heav'n above,
Nor yet that strangers to thy love must know
The bitterness of everlasting woe.

2 But, Jesus, thou art mine, and I am thine;
Clasped to thy bosom by thine arms divine,
Who on the cruel Cross for me hast borne
The nails, the spear, and man’s unpitying scorn.

3 No thought can fathom and no tongue express
Thy griefs, thy toils, thy anguish measureless,
Thy death, O Lamb of God, the undefiled;
And all for me, thy wayward, sinful child.

4 How can I choose but love thee, God’s dear Son,
O Jesus, loveliest and most loving one!
Were there no heav'n to gain, no hell to flee,
For what thou art alone I must love thee.

5 Not for the hope of glory or reward,
But even as thyself hast loved me, Lord,
I love Thee, and will love thee and adore,
Who art my King, my God, forevermore.

Text Information

• First Line: O God, I love thee, not that my poor love
• Title: O God, I Love Thee
• Paraphraser: Edward H. Bickersteth, 1825-1906
• Author (attributed to): Francis Xavier, 1506-1552
• Meter: 10 10 10 10
• Language: English
• Publication Date: 1978
• Topic: Commitment; Justification; Lent; Love; Saints' Days: The Confession of St. Peter

Tune Information

• Name: IN MANUS TUAS
• Composer: Herbert Howells, b. 1892
• Meter: 10 10 10 10
• Key: F Major
• Copyright: © Herbert Howells