When anguish'd and perplex'd I lift my weary eyes
Up to Thy hills, O Lord, and tell Thee all that grieves me,
Thou hearken'st to my sighs,
And never comfortless Thy inner presence leaves me.
My help and my defence come, faithful God, from Thee,
By whom were fix'd the heavens, and laid the earth's foundation;
Man cannot succour me,
Before Thy throne alone is refuge and salvation.
Thou watchest that my foot should neither slip nor stray,
Thou guidest me Thyself, though dark the course I travel;
Thou pointest me the way,
The snares of sin and earth for me Thou dost unravel.
Guardian of Israel, Thou no rest or sleep dost know,
Thy watchful eye beholds in earth's obscurest regions
Who bravely meets Thy foe,
And bears the Cross on high, still true to our allegiance.
And when Thou bidd'st me leave this world of strife and pain,
A steadfast hope in Thee, a quick release, oh grant me,
And let me rise again,
To dwell where death and war no more shall vex and haunt me.
Source: Chorale Book for England, The #142
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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