Lord, to Thee I Make Confession

Representative Text

1 Lord, to you I make confession:
I have sinned and gone astray;
I have multiplied transgression,
chosen for myself my way.
Led by you to see my errors,
Lord, I tremble at your terrors.

2 Yet, though conscience' voice appall me,
Father, I will seek your face.
Though your child I dare not call me,
yet receive me in your grace.
Do not for my sins forsake me,
do not let your wrath overtake me.

3 For your Son has suffered for me,
giv'n himself to rescue me,
died to save me and restore me,
reconciled and set me free.
Jesus' cross alone can vanquish
these dark fears and soothe this anguish.

4 Lord, on you I cast my burden—
sink it in the deepest sea!
Let me know your gracious pardon,
cleanse me from iniquity.
Let your Spirit leave me never,
make me only yours forever.

Source: Christian Worship: Hymnal #653

Author: 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 >

Author: Johann Franck

Johann Franck (b. Guben, Brandenburg, Germany, 1618; d. Guben, 1677) was a law student at the University of Köningsberg and practiced law during the Thirty Years' War. He held several positions in civil service, including councillor and mayor of Guben. A significant poet, second only to Paul Gerhardt in his day, Franck wrote some 110 hymns, many of which were published by his friend Johann Crüger in various editions of the Praxis Pietatis melica. All were included in the first part of Franck’s Teutsche Gedichte bestehend im geistliche Sion (1672). Bert Polman… Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Lord, to Thee I make confession
Title: Lord, to Thee I Make Confession
German Title: Herr, ich habe missgehandelt
Author: Johann Franck (1653)
Author: Catherine Winkworth
Meter: 8.7.8.7.8.8
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

HERR, ICH HABE MISGEHANDELT (Crüger)

Johann Crüger (PHH 42) composed HERR, ICH HABE MISGEHANDELT for a hymn text of the same name by Johann Franck and then published the two together in his Geistliche Kirchen-Melodien (1649), a collection of psalms and hymns set for four voices, two instruments, and continuo. The tune has appeared in…

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Timeline

Media

The Cyber Hymnal #4065
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Instances

Instances (1 - 6 of 6)
TextPage Scan

Christian Worship (1993) #302

TextPage Scan

Christian Worship #653

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnary #450

TextPage Scan

Lutheran Service Book #608

Text

Lutheran Worship #233

TextScoreAudio

The Cyber Hymnal #4065

Include 28 pre-1979 instances
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