With my soul have I desired Thee in the night; yea, with my spirit within me will I seek Thee early: for when Thy judgments are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
Isaiah 26:9
Words: Johann Scheffler, Heilige Seelenlust, 1657 (Jesu, komm doch selbst zu mir). Translated from German to English by Mathias Loy, 1861, alt.
Music: Gott sei dank Neues geistreiches Gesangbuch, by Johann A. Freylinghausen (Halle, Germany: 1704) (🔊 pdf nwc).
Jesus, Savior, come to me;
Let me ever be with Thee;
Come and nevermore depart,
Thou who reignest in my heart.
Lord, for Thee I ever sigh,
Nothing else can satisfy.
Ever do I cry to Thee:
Jesus, Jesus, come to me!
Earthly joys can give no peace,
Cannot bid my longing cease;
Still to have my Jesus near,
This is all my pleasure here.
All that makes the angels glad,
In their garb of glory clad,
Only fills me with distress
If Thy presence does not bless.
Thou alone, my God and Lord,
Art my glory and reward.
Thou hast bled for me and died;
In Thy wounds I safely hide.
Come, then, Lamb for sinners slain,
Come and ease me of my pain.
Evermore I cry to Thee:
Jesus, Jesus, come to me!
Patiently I wait Thy day;
For this gift, O Lord, I pray,
That, when death shall come to me,
My dear Jesus Thou wilt be.