Scripture Verse

I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength. Psalm 18:1

Introduction

portrait
Johann Scheffler (1624–1677)

Words: Jo­hann Scheff­ler, Heil­i­ge Seel­en­lust 1657 (Ich will dich lie­ben, meine Stärke). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, 1863, alt.

Music: Ich will dich lie­ben Har­mo­nisch­er Lie­der­schaft (Frank­furt, Ger­ma­ny: 1738) (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Lyrics

Thee will I love, my strength, my tow­er;
Thee will I love, my hope, my joy;
Thee will I love with all my pow­er,
With ar­dor time will ne’er de­stroy.
Thee will I love, O light di­vine,
So long as life is mine.

Thee will I love, my life, my Sav­ior,
Who art my best and tru­est friend;
Thee will I love and praise for­ev­er,
For ne­ver shall Thy kind­ness end;
Thee will I love with all my heart,
Thou my Re­deem­er art.

I thank Thee, Je­sus, sun from Hea­ven,
Whose ra­di­ance hath brought light to me;
I thank Thee, who hast rich­ly giv­en
All that could make me glad and free;
I thank Thee that my soul is healed
By what Thy lips re­vealed.

Oh, keep me watch­ful, then, and hum­ble
And suf­fer me no more to stray;
Uphold me when my feet would stum­ble,
Nor let me loit­er by the way.
Fill all my na­ture with Thy light,
O Ra­di­ance strong and bright!

Oh, teach me, Lord, to love Thee tru­ly
With soul and bo­dy, head and heart,
And grant me grace that I may du­ly
Practice for­e’er love’s sac­red art.
Grant that my ev­ery thought may be
Directed e’er to Thee.

Thee will I love, my crown of glad­ness;
Thee will I love, my God and Lord,
Amid the dark­est depths of sad­ness,
Nor for the hope of high re­ward—
For Thine own sake, O light di­vine,
So long as life is mine.