"As Surely as I Live," God Said

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Yea, as I live, Jehovah saith, I would not have the sinner's death

Author: Nikolaus Herman; Translator: Matthias Loy
Tune: UFFINGHAM (Clarke)
Published in 7 hymnals

Printable scores: PDF, MusicXML
Audio files: MIDI

Representative Text

1 "As surely as I live," God said,
"I would not see the sinner dead.
I want him turned from error’s ways,
Repentant, living endless days."

2 And so our Lord gave this command:
"Go forth and preach in ev'ry land;
Bestow on all My pard'ning grace
Who will repent and mend their ways.

3 "All those whose sins you thus remit
I truly pardon and acquit,
And those whose sins you will retain
Condemned and guilty shall remain.

4 "What you will bind, that bound shall be;
What you will loose, that shall be free;
To My dear Church the keys are giv'n
To open, close the gates of heav'n."

5 The words which absolution give
Are His who died that we might live;
The minister whom Christ has sent
Is but His humble instrument.

6 When ministers lay on their hands,
Absolved by Christ the sinner stands;
He who by grace the Word believes
The purchase of His blood receives.

7 All praise to You, O Christ, shall be
For absolution full and free,
In which You show Your richest grace;
From false indulgence guard our race.

8 Praise God the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, Three in One,
As was, is now, and so shall be
World without end, eternally!

Source: Lutheran Service Book #614

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Author: Nikolaus Herman

Herman, Nicolaus, is always associated with Joachimsthal in Bohemia, just over the mountains from Saxony. The town was not of importance till the mines began to be extensively worked about 1516. Whether Herman was a native of this place is not known, but he was apparently there in 1518, and was certainly in office there in 1524. For many years he held the post of Master in the Latin School, and Cantor or Organist and Choirmaster in the church. Towards the end of his life he suffered greatly from gout, and had to resign even his post as Cantor a number of years before his death. He died at Joachimsthal, May 3, 1561. (Koch, i. 390-398; Allgemeine Deutsche Biographie, xii. 186-188, &c.) He was a great friend and helper of J. Mathesius (q.v.)… Go to person page >

Translator: Matthias Loy

Loy, M., President of the Capital University, Columbus, Ohio, contributed several original hymns, and translations from the German, to the Evangelical Lutheran Hymnal. Published by Order of the Evangelical Lutheran Joint Synod of Ohio and Other States. Columbus, Ohio, 1880. The translations may be found through the Index of Authors, &c.; the original hymns are the following:— 1. An awful mystery is here. Holy Communion. 2. At Jesus' feet our infant sweet. Holy Baptism. 3. Come, humble soul, receive the food. Holy Communion. 4. Give me, 0 Lord, a spirit lowly. Humility desired. 5. God gave His word to holy men. Inspiration of Holy Scripture. 6. God of grace, Whose word is sure. Faithfulness. 7. How matchless is… Go to person page >

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First Line:	Yea, as I live, Jehovah saith, I would not have the sinner's death
Title:	"As Surely as I Live," God Said
German Title:	So wahr ich leb, spricht Gott, der Herr
Author:	Nikolaus Herman
Translator:	Matthias Loy
Meter:	8.8.8.8
Language:	English
Copyright:	Public Domain