"Thou Light of Gentile Nations"
                  By Johann Franck, 1618-1677
                                 Text From:
                      THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. Thou Light of Gentile nations,
        Thou Savior from above,
        Drawn by Thy Spirit's leading,
        We come with joy and love
        Into Thy holy temple
        And wait with earnest mind
        As Simeon had waited
        His God and Lord to find.

        2. Yea, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee,
        In every holy place
        Where Thy true Word has promised
        That we should see Thy face.
        Today Thou still dost grant us
        Who gather round Thee here
        In arms of faith to bear Thee
        As did that aged seer.

        3.Be Thou our Joy and Brightness,
        Our Cheer in pain and loss,
        Our Sun in darkest terror,
        The Glory round our cross,
        A Star for sinking spirits,
        A Beacon in distress,
        Physician, Friend, in sickness,
        In death our Happiness.

        4. Let us, O Lord, be faithful
        Like Simeon to the end,
        So that his prayer exultant
        May from our hearts ascend:
        "O Lord, now let Thy servant
        Depart in peace, I pray,
        Since I have seen my Savior
        And here beheld His day."

        5. My Savior, I behold Thee
        With faith's enlightened eye;
        Of Thee no foe can rob me,
        His threats I can defy.
        Within Thy heart abiding,
        As Thou, O Lord, in me,
        Death can no longer frighten
        Nor part my soul from Thee.

        6. Lord, here on earth Thou seemest
        At times to frown on me,
        And through my tears I often
        Can scarce distinguish Thee;
        But in the heavenly mansions
        Shall nothing dim my sight;
        There shall I see Thy glory
        In never-changing light.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #138 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Luke 2:32
        Author: Johann Franck, 1674
        Translated by: Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
        Titled: "Herr Jesu, Licht der Heiden"
        Composer: Melchior Teschner, 1613
        Tune: "Valet will ich dir geben"
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
        by Cindy A. Beesley and is in the public domain.  You may
        freely distribute, copy or print this text.  Please direct any
        comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther
        Library at Concordia Theological Seminary.

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