Ye Sons of Men, Oh Hearken

Words: Valentin Thilo, Jr. (1607-1662), Mit Ernst, o Menschenkinder, 1659
Translated by Arthur T. Russell (1806-1874), 1851

Text: Luke 3:4, 5

Music: Aus meines Herzens Grunde, published in Neu Catechismus-Gesangbuechlein, Hamburg, 1598
MIDI / Noteworthy Composer / PDF

Meter: 76 76 67 76

1. Ye sons of men, oh, hearken:
Your heart and mind prepare,
To hail the almighty Savior,
O sinners, be your care.
He who of grace alone
Our Life and Light was given,
The promised Lord from heaven,
Unto our world is shown.

2. Prepare the way before Him;
Prepare for Him the best,
Cast out whate'er offendeth
This great, this heavenly Guest
Make straight, make plain, the way:
The lowly valleys raising
The heights of pride abasing.
His path all even lay.

3. The humble heart and lowly
God lifteth up on high:
Beneath His feet in anguish
The haughty soul shall lie.
The heart, sincere and right,
That heeds God's invitation
And makes true preparation,
It is the Lord's delight.

4. Prepare my heart, Lord Jesus,
Turn not from me aside,
And grand that I receive Thee
This blessed Advent-tide.
From stall and manger low
Come Thou to dwell within me;
Loud praises will I sing Thee
And forth glory show.

Notes

Hymn #75 from The Lutheran Hymnal (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941). This text was converted to ASCII format for Project Wittenberg  by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain. For more information about Project Wittenberg, contact Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary, 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA.

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