O world, I now must leave thee

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O world, I now must leave thee

Author: Johann Hess (1547); Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Tune: INNSBRUCK
Published in 6 hymnals

Piano/Organ
	Communion Hymns for Organ, Vol. 2

Representative Text

1 O world, I now must leave thee,
But little doth it grieve me,
I seek my native land;
True life I there inherit,
And here I yield my spirit
With joy to God's all-gracious hand.

2 So on His Word relying,
I know, while I am dying
I soon shall see His face,
Through Christ whose death hath bought me;
The Father's love He brought me,
And now prepares for me a place.

3 The grave hath lost its terrors,
Since for my sins and errors,
My Savior did atone:
My works can nought avail me,
But His work cannot fail me,
I rest in faith on Him alone.

4 And so I hence am going
In peace, full surely knowing
That now I shall have rest:
I feel death's icy finger;
My soul here cannot linger,
Nor would I stay--to go is best.

5 O world, I yet would teach thee
That death will surely reach thee;
Thou too must follow me;
Then ere God's grace forsake thee,
Repent! to Christ betake thee,
That God have mercy too on thee.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran hymnal: with music #436

All representative texts • Compare texts ^ top

Author: Johann Hess

Hesse, Johann, D.D., son. of Johann von Hesse, a merchant of Nürnberg, was born at Nürnberg, Sept. 21 or 23, 1490. He attended the Universities of Leipzig (1506), Wittenberg, where he graduated M.A., 1511, and heard lectures froin Luther and Johann v. Staupitz; Bologna and Ferrara (D.D. at Ferrara, 1519). During his residence in Italy he gained an insight into the corruptions of the Church in that country, and on his return home in 1520 he sided more and more with the party of Reform. He had been appointed Canon of Neisse in Silesia in 1515, and was in 1520 ordained priest at Breslau. He acted for some time as a Provost of the Church of St. Mary and St. George, at Oels, and was then summoned to Breslau, in 1521, to preach as a Canon of th… 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 world, I now must leave thee
German Title:	O Welt, ich muss dich lassen
Author:	Johann Hess (1547)
Translator:	Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain