O How Could I Forget Him

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O how could I forget Him

Author: Christian Gottlob Kern (1835); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Tune: [Wie könnt' ich sein vergessen] (Lasso)
Published in 14 hymnals

Representative Text

Oh how could I forget Him,
Who ne'er forgetteth me?
Or tell the love that let Him
Descend to set me free?
Have I not seen Him dying
For us on yonder tree?
Have I not heard him crying,
Arise and follow me?

For ever will I love Him
Who saw my hopeless plight,
Who felt my sorrows move Him,
And brought me life and light;
Whose arm shall be around me
When my last hour is come,
And suffer none to wound me,
Though dark the passage home.

He gives me pledges holy,
His body and His blood,
He lifts the scorn'd, the lowly,
He makes my courage good,
For He will reign within me,
And shed His graces there;
The heaven He died to win me
Can I then fail to share?

In joy and sorrow ever
Shine through me, Blessed Heart,
Who bleeding for us, never
Didst shrink from sorest smart!
Whate'er I've lov'd, or striven,
Or borne, I bring to Thee,
Now let Thy heart and heaven
Stand open, Lord, to me.

Source: Chorale Book for England, The #95

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Author: Christian Gottlob Kern

Kern, Christian Gottlob, was born Jan. 13, 1792, at Söhnstetten, near Heidenheim, Württemberg, where his father was pastor. After the completion of his theological studies at Tübingen he was for two years assistant clergyman at Plochingen. In 1817 he became Theological Tutor (repetent) at Tübingen, in 1820 Second Pastor (Heifer) at Besigheim, and, in 1824, Preacher and Professor at the Clergy School of Schönthal. He finally became, in 1829, Pastor of Dürrmenz-Mühlacker, near Pforzheim, and died there Aug. 5, 1835 (Koch, vii. 210; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xv. 632). His hymns appeared mostly in Knapp's Christoterpe. One has been translated, viz.:— Wie könnt ich sein vergessen. Holy Communion. This beautiful hymn was first… 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:	O how could I forget Him
Title:	O How Could I Forget Him
German Title:	Wie könnt' ich Sein vergessen
Author:	Christian Gottlob Kern (1835)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain