O Lord, How Shall I Meet Thee
Words and music by Paul Gerhardt · 1653
Key of Eb · 140 BPM · 4/4 · Anticipation,Assurance,Christmas/Advent · Mt 21:1-9
Verse 1
O Lord, how shall I meet Thee, How welcome Thee aright?
All nations long to see Thee, My Hope, my heart's Delight!
O kindle, Lord, most holy, Thy lamp within my breast,
To do in spirit lowly All that may please Thee best.
Verse 2
Thy Zion palms is strewing, And branches fresh and fair;
My heart, its pow'rs renewing, An anthem shall prepare.
My soul puts off her sadness Thy glories to proclaim;
With all her strength and gladness She fain would serve Thy Name.
Verse 3
What hast Thou left ungranted To give me glad relief?
When soul and body panted In utmost depth of grief,
In deepest degradation, Devoid of joy and peace,
Then, Thou, my soul's Salvation, Didst come to bring release.
Verse 4
I lay in fetters groaning, Thou com'st to set me free;
I stood, my shame bemoaning, Thou com'st to honor me.
A glory Thou dost give me, A treasure safe on high,
That will not fail nor leave me As earthly riches fly.
Verse 5
Love caused Thine incarnation Love brought Thee down to me;
Thy thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty.
O love beyond all telling, That led Thee to embrace,
In love all love excelling, Our lost and fallen race!
Public domain — free for any use, anywhere, forever.