The Lutheran Hymnary ‎#509

509. Jesus Christ, my sure defense

1 Jesus Christ, my sure defense
And my Savior, ever liveth;
Knowing this; my confidence
Rests upon the hope it giveth,
Though the night of death be fraught
Still with many an anxious thought.

2 Jesus, my Redeemer, lives!
I, too, unto life shall waken:
He will have me where He is;
Shall my courage then be shaken?
Shall I fear? Or can the Head
Rise and leave its members dead?

3 Nay, too closely am I bound
Unto Him by hope for ever;
Faith's strong hand the rock hath found,
Grasped it, and will leave it never;
Not the ban of death can part
From its Lord the trusting heart.

4 I shall see God with these eyes,
Shall behold my blessed Savior;
I, the selfsame, shall arise,
In my flesh see god forever;
Then shall wholly disappear
Frailties that oppress me here.

5 What now sickens, mourns, and sighs,
Christ with Him in glory bringeth:
Earthly is the seed and dies,
Heavenly from the grave it springeth.
Glorified we then shall rise
To our mansion in the skies.

6 Savior, draw away our heart
Now from pleasures base and hollow,
Let us there with Thee have part,
Here on earth Thy footsteps follow.
Fix our hearts beyond the skies,
Whither we ourselves would rise.

Text Information

• First Line: Jesus Christ, my sure defense
• Author: Anon. (1653)
• Meter: 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7.
• Publication Date: 1913
• Topic: The Church Year: Twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity; Hope; Resurrection

Tune Information

• Name: [Jesus Christ, my sure defense]
• Meter: 7, 8, 7, 8, 7, 7.
• Key: C Major
• Source: German, 1756