Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever Thou goest.
Luke 9:57
Words: Christian Keimann, 1658 (Meinen Jesum lass’ ich nicht). Composite translation.
Music: Meinem Jesum lass ich nicht Neuverfertiges Gesangbuch (Darmstadt, Germany: 1699) (🔊 pdf nwc).
If you know where to get a good picture of Keimann (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),
Jesus I will never leave,
Who for me Himself hath given;
Firmly unto Him I’ll cleave
Nor from Him be ever driven.
Life from Him doth light receive,
Jesus I will never leave.
Jesus I will never leave
While on earth I am abiding;
That I have to Him I give,
All my cares in Him confiding.
Naught shall me of Him bereave,
Jesus I will never leave.
Though my sight shall pass away,
Hearing, taste, and feeling fail me;
Though my life’s last light of day
Shall o’ertake and sore assail me;
When His summons I receive,
Jesus I will never leave.
Nor will I my Jesus leave
When at last I shall come thither
Where His saints He will receive,
Where in bliss they live together.
Endless joy to me He’ll give,
Jesus I will never leave.
Not for earth’s vain joys I crave
Nor, without him, Heaven’s pleasure;
Jesus, who my soul did save,
Evermore shall be my Treasure.
He redemption did achieve,
Jesus I will never leave.