Catherine Winkworth (trans. & ed.) · 121 of 213
116. Lord, hear the voice of my complaint
Prayer
(XLVI.--"Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ.")
Original Tune.
Lord, hear the voice of my complaint, To Thee I now commend me, Let not my heart and hope grow faint, But deign Thy to send me; True faith from Thee, my God, I seek, The faith that loves Thee solely, Keeps me lowly, And prompt to aid the weak, And mark each word that Thou dost speak.
Yet more from Thee I dare to claim, Whose goodness is unbounded; Oh let me ne'er be put to shame, My hope be ne'er confounded; But e'en in death still find Thee true, And in that hour, else lonely, Trust Thee only, Not aught that I can do, For such false trust I sore should rue.
Oh grant that from my very heart My foes be all forgiven, Forgive my sins and heal their smart, And grant new life from heaven; Thy word, that blessed food, bestow, Which best the soul canst nourish; Make it flourish Through all the storms of woe That else my faith might overthrow.
Then be the world my foe or friend, Keep me to her a stranger, Thy steadfast soldier to the end, Through pleasure and through danger; From Thee alone comes such high , No works of ours obtain it, Or can gain it; Our pride hath here no place, 'Tis Thy free promise we embrace.
Help me, for I am weak; I fight, Yet scarce can battle longer; I cling but to Thy and might, 'Tis Thou must make me stronger; When sore temptations are my lot, And tempests round me lower, Break their power. So, through deliverance wrought, I know that Thou forsak'st me not!
Ich ruf' zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ