Scripture Verse

The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. Psalm 19:7

Introduction

portrait
Catherine Winkworth (1827–1878)

Words: Carl B. Garve, Christ­liche Ge­sänge (Gör­litz: 1825) (Dein Wort, O Herr, ist mil­der Thau). Trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by Ca­the­rine Wink­worth, Ly­ra Ger­ma­ni­ca (Lon­don & New York: George Newnes & Charles Scrib­ner’s Sons, 1855), pag­es 28–29, alt.

Music: Re­lease Da­nish tune (🔊 pdf nwc).

If you know where to get a good pic­ture of Garve (head & shoul­ders, at least 200×300 pix­els),

Lyrics

Thy Word, O Lord, like gentle dews,
Falls soft on hearts that pine;
Lord, to Thy garden ne’er refuse
This heavenly balm of Thine.
Watered by Thee, let every tree
Then blossom to Thy praise,
By grace of Thine bear fruit divine
Through all the coming days.

Thy Word is like a flaming sword,
A wedge that cleaveth stone;
Keen as a fire so burns Thy Word,
And pierceth flesh and bone;
O send it forth o’er all the earth
To cleanse our hearts within,
To show Thy power in Satan’s hour,
And break the night of sin.

Thy Word a wondrous guiding star,
On pilgrim hearts doth rise,
Leads those to God who dwell afar,
And makes the simple wise.
Let not its light e’er sink in night,
But in each spirit shine,
That none may miss Hea­ven’s final bliss,
Led by Thy light divine.