Scripture Verse

Who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord? 1 Chronicles 29:5

Introduction

portrait
Ray Palmer (1808–1887)

Words: Ray Pal­mer, in Par­ish Hymns (Phi­la­del­phia, Penn­syl­van­ia: Per­kins & Pur­ves, 1844), num­ber 268.

Music: Can­on­bu­ry adapt­ed from Nacht­stück, Op­us 23, No. 4, by Ro­bert A. Schu­mann, 1839 (🔊 pdf nwc).

Alternate Tune:

  • Florence ano­ny­mous, in The New Laud­es Do­mi­ni, ed­it­ed by Charles S. Ro­bin­son & Ed­ward Jud­son (New York: Cen­tu­ry Com­pa­ny, 1892), page 418 (🔊 pdf nwc)
portrait
Robert A. Schumann
(1810–1856)

Lyrics

Oh, sweet­ly breathe the lyres above,
When an­gels touch the qui­ver­ing string,
And wake, to chant Im­ma­nu­el’s love,
Such strains as an­gel lips can sing.

And sweet, on earth, the cho­ral swell,
From mor­tal tongues, of glad­some lays;
When par­doned souls their rap­tures tell,
And, grate­ful hymn Im­ma­nu­el’s praise.

Jesus, Thy name our souls adore;
We own the bond that makes us Thine;
And car­nal joys, that charmed be­fore,
For Thy dear sake we now re­sign.

Our hearts, by dy­ing love sub­dued,
Accept Thine of­fered grace to­day;
Beneath the cross, with blood be­dewed,
We bow, and give our­selves away.

In Thee we trust—on Thee rely;
Though we are fee­ble, Thou art strong;
Oh keep us till our spir­its fly
To join the bright im­mor­tal throng.