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Sink not yet, my soul, to slumber

Representative Text

1 Sink not yet, my soul, to slumber,
Wake, my heart, go forth and tell,
All the mercies without number
That this by-gone day befell:
Tell how God hath kept afar,
All things that against me war,
Hath upheld me and defended,
And His grace my soul befriended.

2 Father, merciful and holy,
Thee to-night I praise and bless,
Who to labor true and lowly,
Grantest ever meet success;
Many a sin and many a woe,
Many a fierce and subtle foe
Hast Thou checked that once alarmed me,
So that naught today has harmed me.

3 Yes, our wisdom vainly ponders,
Fathoms not Thy loving thought.
Never tongue can tell the wonders
That Thy hand for me hath wrought;
Thou hast guided me today,
That no ill hath crossed my way;
There is neither bound nor measure
In Thy love's o'erflowing treasure.

4 Now the light that nature gladdens,
And the pomp of day is gone,
And my heart is tired and saddens,
As the gloomy night comes on;
Ah, then with Thy changeless light
Warm and cheer my heart to-night;
As the shadows round me gather,
Keep me close to Thee, my Father.

5 Of Thy grace, I pray Thee, pardon
All my sins, and heal their smart;
Sore and heavy is their burden,
Sharp their sting within my heart;
And my Foe lays many a snare
But to tempt me to despair;
Thou alone canst help me, Savior,
Punish not my ill behavior.

6 Though I have from Thee departed,
Now I seek Thy face again,
For Thy Son, the loving-hearted,
Made our peace through bitter pain.
Yes, far greater than our sin,
Though it still be strong within,
Is Thy love that fails us never,
Mercy that endures forever.

7 Brightness of th'eternal city!
Light of every faithful soul!
Safe beneath Thy sheltering pity
Let the tempests past me roll;
Now it darkens far and near,
Still, my God, still be Thou here;
Thou canst comfort, and Thou only,
When the night is long and lonely.

8 From the power of darkness save me,
And from Satan's hellish snares,
Who endeavors to enslave me,
And assails me unawares;
Let me never lose the sight
Of Thy good and gracious light;
Thou canst fill my heart with gladness,
That it feel no pain in sadness.

9 Though my weary eyes are closing,
And my senses fall asleep,
Still my soul, on Thee reposing,
Ever must its vigils keep.
Let my spirit longingly
Always dream, my God, of Thee,
Firmly unto Thee e'er cleaving,
E'en in sleep Thy grace receiving.

10 Lord, the twilight now hath vanished,
Send Thy blessing on my sleep,
Every sin and terror banished,
Let my rest be calm and deep.
Soul and body, mind and health,
Wife and children, house and wealth,
Friend and foe, the sick, the stranger,
Keep Thou safe from harm and danger.

11 O Thou mighty God, now hearken
To the prayer Thy child hath made;
Jesus, while the night-hours darken,
Be Thou still my Hope, my aid;
Holy Ghost, on Thee I call,
Friend and Comforter of all,
Hear my earnest prayer, O hear me!
Lord, Thou hearest, Thou art near me.

Source: Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #31

Author: Johann von Rist

Rist, Johann, son of Kaspar Rist, pastor at Ottensen, near Hamburg, was born at Ottensen, March 8, 1607, and from his birth was dedicated to the ministry. After passing through the Johanneum at Hamburg and the Gymnasium Illustre at Bremen, he matriculated, in his 21st year, at the University of Rinteln, and there, under Josua Stegmann (q. v.), he received an impulse to hymn-writing. On leaving Rinteln he acted as tutor to the sons of a Hamburg merchant, accompanying them to the University of Rostock, where he himself studied Hebrew, Mathematics and also Medicine. During his residence at Rostock the terrors, of the Thirty Years War almost emptied the University, and Rist himself also lay there for weeks ill of the pestilence. After his r… 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 >

Text Information

First Line: Sink not yet, my soul, to slumber
German Title: Werde munter, mein Gemüthe
Author: Johann von Rist (1642)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language: English
Copyright: Public Domain

Tune

WERDE MUNTER

JESU JOY is a form of the tune WERDE MUNTER, MEIN GEMUETE by Johann Schop (b. Hamburg [?], Germany, c. 1595; d. Hamburg, 1667). In 1614 Schop was appointed court musician in the Hofkapelle at Wolfenbüttel. A virtuoso violinist, he also played the lute, cornetto, and trombone. He became a musician f…

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Timeline

Instances

Instances (1 - 17 of 17)
TextPage Scan

Chorale Book for England, The #167

Christian Hymns #97

Evangelical Lutheran Hymn Book with Tunes #d398

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #31

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-book #304

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal #312

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran hymnal #312

TextPage Scan

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal. 9th ed. #a312

Evangelical Lutheran Hymnbook (Lutheran Conference of Missouri and Other States) #d299

Page Scan

Hymnal for Colleges and Schools #19

Hymnal for Colleges and Schools. 3rd ed. #d278

Page Scan

Lyra Germanica #S2-43

Page Scan

The Bach Chorale Book #49

The Selah Song Book (Das Sela Gesangbuch) #d667

Page Scan

The Selah Song Book (Das Sela Gesangbuch) (2nd ed) #175a

The Selah Song Book. Word ed. #d337

Page Scan

The Spirit of Praise #260

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