As I prepare to say good-bye to Epiphany and contemplate the season of Lent, I'll share this hymn which is recommended by Sing for Joy for this Lord's Day. The words were written by German Jesuits and published in a German songbook (from Munster, Germany) in 1677. Perhaps a more well known version is "Fairest Lord Jesus," but the words below are the original translation to English, done by a Lutheran pastor in America in 1873.
"Beautiful Savior"
Beautiful Savior, King of Creation
Son of God and Son of Man!
Truly I’d love Thee, truly I’d serve Thee,
Light of my soul, my joy, my crown.
Fair are the meadows, Fair are the woodlands,
Robed in the flowers of blooming spring;
Jesus is fairer, Jesus is purer,
He makes our sorrowing spirit sing.
Fair is the sunshine, Fair is the moonlight,
Bright the sparkling stars on high;
Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer
Than all the angels in the sky.
Beautiful Savior, Lord of the nations,
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, Praise, adoration
Now and forevermore be Thine!
(the above drawing is a detail from a 1572 map of Munster, Germany)
No comments:
Post a Comment