Words: Hermann Fick, 1885 (Gehe auf, du Trost der Heiden); composite translation.
Music: "O Du Liebe," Musikalischer Christenschatz, by Johann Thommen (Basel, Switzerland: 1745)
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Rise, Thou Light of Gentile nations,
Jesus, bright and Morning Star;
Let Thy Word, the gladsome tidings,
Ring out loudly near and far,
Bringing freedom to the captives,
Peace and comfort to the slave,
That the heathen, free from bondage,
May proclaim Thy power to save.
See the blindness of the heathen,
Strangers to Thy glorious light,
Straying hopeless till they find Thee,
Wandering aimless in the night.
See their pitiful condition;
Lo, gross darkness covers all,
And no ray of hope refreshes
Nor dispels the dreadful pall.
If Thou, merciful Redeemer,
Hadst not saved us from this plight,
In like darkness we would languish
Hopeless, helpless, in sin's night.
Lovingly Thou, Lord, didst seek us
In the beauty of Thy grace;
Now with joy we freely serve Thee,
We, Thy blessèd, chosen race.
Knowing Thee and Thy salvation,
Grateful love dare never cease
To proclaim Thy tender mercies,
Gracious Lord, Thy heavenly peace.
Sound we forth the Gospel tidings
To the earth's remotest bound
That the sinner has been pardoned
And forgiveness can be found.
Hymns supplied through the gracious generosity of the Cyber Hymnal Website