IMMANUEL, WE SING THY PRAISE

For Christmas

Words:  "Wir Singen Dir Immanuel", Paul Gerhardt, 1653
Translation By Catherine Winkworth, alt.
From Lyra Germanica: The Christian Year ,1855
See: The Christmas Poetry of Catherine Winkworth

Compare:
Thee, O Immanuel, We Praise
We Sing, Immanuel, Thy Praise
We Sing To Thee, Emmanuel (Frances Elizabeth Cox)

Music: "Erschienen Ist der Herrlich Tag," N. Hermann,
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML
"Germany," William Gardiner's Sacred Melodies, 1815
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / XML

1. Immanuel, we sing Thy praise;
Thou Prince of Life, Thou Fount of Grace,
With all Thy saints, Thee, Lord, we sing;
Praise, honor, thanks, to Thee we bring.¹

2. E'er since the world began to be,
How many a heart hath longed for Thee!
And Thou, O long expected Guest,
Hast come at last to make us blest!

3. Now art Thou here: we know Thee now:
In lowly manger liest Thou:
A Child, yet makest all things great;
Poor, yet the earth Thy robe of state.

4. Now fearlessly I come to Thee:
From sin and grief O set me free!
Turn wrath away, dread death destroy,
And turn my sorrow into joy.²

5. Thou art my Head, my Lord divine:
I am Thy member, wholly Thine;
And by Thy Spirit's gracious power³
Will seek to serve Thee evermore.⁴

6. Thus will I sing Thy praises here,
With joyful spirit year by year;
And when we reckon years no more,
May I in heaven Thy name adore.

Notes:

1. The version from O. Hardwig, The Wartburg Hymnal (1918) adds Hallelujah to the end of each verse. See sheet music (below). Return

2. Alternate fourth verse from O. Hardwig:

Now fearless I can look on Thee.
From sin and grief Thou set’st me free!
Thou bearest wrath, Thou conquerest death.
Fear turns to joy Thy gaze beneath. Return

3. Or: And by Thy Spirit's strength would still Return

4. Or: Serve Thee according to Thy will. Return

Sheet Music from O. Hardwig, ed., The Wartburg Hymnal (Chicago: Wartburg Publishing House, 1918), #93

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