Scripture Verse

In Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. Ephesians 2:22

Introduction

portrait
Philipp Nicolai (1556–1608)

Words: Mi­chael Schir­mer, 1640 (O heil­ig­er Geist, kehr bei uns in). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, Cho­rale Book for Eng­land, 1863.

Music: Wie schön leuch­tet Phi­lipp Ni­co­lai, 1599 (🔊 pdf nwc).

portrait
Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Lyrics

O Ho­ly Spi­rit, enter in,
Among these hearts Thy work begin,
Thy temple deign to make us;
Sun of the soul, Thou Light divine,
Around and in us brightly shine,
To strength and gladness wake us.
Where Thou shinest, life from Hea­ven
There is given; we before Thee
For that precious gift implore Thee.

Give to Thy Word impressive pow’r
That in our hearts, from this good hour,
As fire it may be glowing;
That we confess the Fa­ther, Son,
And Thee, the Spi­rit, Three in One,
Thy glo­ry ever showing.
Stay Thou, guide now
Our souls ever that they ne­ver
May forsake Thee.
May in love be still increasing.

Thou fountain whence all wisdom flows
Which God on pious hearts bestows,
Grant us Thy consolation
That in our pure faith’s unity
We faithful witnesses maybe
Of grace that bring sal­va­tion.
Hear us, cheer us,
By Thy teaching; let our preaching,
And our labor praise Thee,
Lord, and serve our neighbor.

Left to ourselves, we shall but stray;
O lead us on the narrow way,
With wisest counsel guide us;
And give us steadfastness, that we
May henceforth truly follow Thee,
Whatever woes betide us;
Heal Thou gently hearts now broken,
Give some token Thou art near us,
Whom we trust to light and cheer us.

Thy heavenly strength sustain our heart
That we may act the valiant part
With Thee as our reliance;
Be Thou our refuge and our shield
That we may ne­ver quit the field,
But bid all foes defiance.
Descend, defend
From all errors and earth’s terrors
Thy sal­va­tion be our constant consolation.

O mighty rock, O source of life,
Let Thy dear word ’mid doubt and strife
Be so within us burning,
That we be faithful unto death,
In Thy pure love and holy faith,
From Thee true wisdom learning!
Lord, Thy graces on us shower;
By Thy power Christ confessing,
Let us win His grace and blessing.

O gentle dew, from Hea­ven now fall
With power upon the hearts of all,
Thy tender love instilling,
That heart to heart more closely bound,
In kindly deeds be fruitful found,
The law of love fulfilling.
Dwell thus in us; envy banish;
Strife will vanish where Thou livest.
Peace and love and joy Thou givest.

Grant that our days, while life shall last,
In purest holiness be passed;
Our minds so rule and strengthen
That they may rise o’er things of earth,
The hopes and joys that here have birth;
And if our course Thou lengthen,
Keep Thou pure, Lord, from offenses
Heart and senses; blessèd Spi­rit,
Bid us thus true life inherit.