My Redeemer, overwhelmed with anguish

Top Media Text Translator Author Text Info Tune Timeline Page Scans Instances

My Redeemer, overwhelmed with anguish

Translator: Johannes Swertner; Author: Christian Renatus von Zinzendorf
Tune: COVENANT (Herrnhut)
Published in 7 hymnals

Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 My Redeemer, overwhelmed with anguish,
went to Olivet for me;
there he kneels, his heart doth heave and languish
in a bitter agony;
fear and horror seize his soul and senses,
for the hour of darkness now commences;
ah, how doth he weep and groan
our rebellion to atone.

2 Could our hearts and voices then join forces
in exalted songs to raise;
yet, till joined to the celestial chorus,
cold would prove our warmest praise;
Jesus’ love exceeds all comprehension,
but our love to him we scarce dare mention;
we may weep beneath his cross,
but he wept and bled for us.

3 Lamb of God, you shall remain forever
of our songs the only theme;
for Thy boundless love, your grace and favor,
we will praise your saving name;
that for our transgressions you were wounded
shall by us in nobler strains be sounded,
when we, perfected in love,
once shall join the church above.

Source: Moravian Book of Worship #346

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Translator: Johannes Swertner

Swertner, John, b. Sept. 12, 1746, at Haarlem, in Holland, Moravian minister at various places in England and Ireland; d. at Bristol, March 11, 1813. --John Julian, Dictionary of Hymnology, New Supplement (1907) Go to person page >

Author: Christian Renatus von Zinzendorf

Zinzendorf, Christian Renatus, Count von, second son of Nicolaus Ludwig Ton Zinzendorf, was born Sept. 19, 1727, at Herrnhut, in Saxony. He received his education from his parents, and from Johann Langguth and others of the Brethren. He was the only son that survived his boyhood, early accompanied his father on his journeys, and was, e.g., in 1743, for sixteen days imprisoned with him at Riga. From 1744 to 1750 he lived mostly at Herrenhaag in Wetteravia, ministering specially to the single Brethren. When the community at Herrenhaag was dissolved in 1750, his father summoned him to London. He brought with him the seeds of consumption, which developed in England. He died in London, May 28, 1752 (Koch, v., 312; Hist. Nachricht (to the Brüde… Go to person page >

^ top