Ich lass dich nicht, du musst mein Jesus bleiben. [Constancy to Christ .] Founded on Genesis xxxii. 36. First published 1692 along with Meditation xviii., which is entitled "The striving love." Wetzel (A. H., vol. i., pt. iv., p. 20) says it was sung, at her request, Sept. 5, 1726, at the deathbed of Christiana Eberhardina, a pious Queen of Poland. In the Berlin Geistliche Lieder, edition 1863, No. 728, in 9 stanzas of 10 lines. Translated as:—
I will not let Thee go, Thou Help in time of need, a fine translation, beginning with stanza iv. (“Ich lass dich nicht, du Hülf in alien Nothen"), and adding translations of stanzas v., ix., by Miss Winkworth, in the first ser., 1855, of her Lyra Germanica, p. 59. Thence as No. 851 in the Wesleyan Hymn Book, 1875; No. 205 in the Scottish Presbyterian Hymnal, 1876; No. 139 in the Canadian Presbyterian Hymn Book 1880.
Another translation is, “I leave Thee not, Thou art my Jesus ever," by Dr. J. W. Alexander, first published in Dr. Schaff's Kirchenfreund, 1851, p. 140 (reprinted in the Christian Treasury, Edin. 1851, p. 378), and included in his The Breaking Crucible, &c, N. Y., 1861, p. 19. In Schaff's Christ in Song, 1869, p. 555.
--Excerpts from John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology (1907)
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