1 We sing to Thee, Immanuel,
The Prince of Life, salvation’s well,
The Plant of Heaven, the Star of Morn,
The Lord of Lords, the virgin born.
2 All glory, worship, thanks and praise,
That Thou art come in these our days;
Thou heavenly Guest expected long,
We hail Thee with a joyful song.
3 For Thee, since first the world was made,
Men’s hearts have waited, watched and prayed;
Prophets and patriarchs, year by year,
Have longed to see Thy light appear.
4 O God—they prayed—from Sion rise,
And hear Thy captive people’s cries;
At length, O Lord, salvation bring,
Then Jacob shall rejoice and sing.
5 Now Thou, by whom the world was made,
Art in Thy manger-cradle laid;
Maker of all things, great, art small,
Naked Thyself, though clothing all.
6 Thou, who both Heaven and earth dost sway,
In strangers’ inn art fain to stay;
And though Thy power makes angels blest,
Dost seek Thy food from human breast.
7 Encouraged thus, our love grows bold
On Thee to lay our steadfast hold;
The cross which Thou didst undergo
Has vanquished death and healed our woe.
8 Thou art our head—then Lord, of Thee
True, living members we will be;
And, in the strength Thy grace shall give,
Will live as Thou wouldst have us live.
9 As each short year goes quickly round,
Our alleluias shall resound;
And when we reckon years no more,
May we in Heaven Thy name adore.
Source: The Cyber Hymnal #10677
Paul Gerhardt (b. Gräfenheinichen, Saxony, Germany, 1607; d. Lubben, Germany, 1676), famous author of Lutheran evangelical hymns, studied theology and hymnody at the University of Wittenberg and then was a tutor in Berlin, where he became friends with Johann Crüger. He served the Lutheran parish of Mittenwalde near Berlin (1651-1657) and the great St. Nicholas' Church in Berlin (1657-1666). Friederich William, the Calvinist elector, had issued an edict that forbade the various Protestant groups to fight each other. Although Gerhardt did not want strife between the churches, he refused to comply with the edict because he thought it opposed the Lutheran "Formula of Concord," which condemned some Calvinist doctrines. Consequently, he was r… Go to person page >
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