Jesus, pitying Savior, hear me

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Jesus, pitying Savior, hear me

Author: Gerhard Tersteegen (1731); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Published in 5 hymnals

Representative Text

Jesus, pitying Saviour, hear me,
Draw Thou near me,
Turn Thee, Lord, in grace to me;
For Thou knowst all my sorrow,
Night and morrow
Doth my cry go up to Thee.

Sin of courage hath bereft me,
And hath left me
Scarce a spark of faith or hope;
Bitter tears my heart oft sheddeth
As it dreadeth
I am past Thy mercy's scope.

Peace I cannot find, oh take me,
Lord, and make me
From the yoke of evil free;
Calm this longing never-sleeping,
Still my weeping,
Grant me hope once more in Thee.

Lord, wilt Thou be wroth for ever?
Oh deliver
Me from all I most deserved;
'Tis Thyself, dear Lord, hast sought me,
Thou hast taught me
Thee to seek from whom I swerved.

Thou, my God and King, hast known me,
Yet hast shown me
True and loving is Thy will;
Though my heart from Thee oft ranges,
Through its changes,
Lord, Thy love is faithful still.

Bless my trials thus to sever
Me for ever
From the love of self and sin;
Let me through them see Thee clearer,
Find Thee nearer,
Grow more like to Thee within.

In the patience that Thou lendest
All Thou sendest
I embrace, I will be still;
Bend this stubborn heart, I pray Thee,
To obey Thee,
Calmly waiting on Thy will.

Here I bring my will, oh take it,
Thine, Lord, make it,
Calm this troubled heart of mine;
In Thy strength I too may conquer,
Wait no longer,
Show in me Thy grace Divine.

Source: Chorale Book for England, The #109

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Author: Gerhard Tersteegen

Tersteegen, Gerhard, a pious and useful mystic of the eighteenth century, was born at Mörs, Germany, November 25, 1697. He was carefully educated in his childhood, and then apprenticed (1715) to his older brother, a shopkeeper. He was religiously inclined from his youth, and upon coming of age he secured a humble cottage near Mühlheim, where he led a life of seclusion and self-denial for many years. At about thirty years of age he began to exhort and preach in private and public gatherings. His influence became very great, such was his reputation for piety and his success in talking, preaching, and writing concerning spiritual religion. He wrote one hundred and eleven hymns, most of which appeared in his Spiritual Flower Garden (1731). He… Go to person page >

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

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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Text Information

Text Information

First Line:	Jesus, pitying Savior, hear me
German Title:	Jesu, mein Erbarmer, hoere
Author:	Gerhard Tersteegen (1731)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain