

                       "For Thee, O Dear, Dear Country"
                      by Bernard of Morlas, 12th century
                    Translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866
                                  Text From:
                              THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL
                 (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)



        1. For thee, O dear, dear country,
        Mine eyes their vigils keep;
        For very love, beholding
        Thy happy name, they weep.
        The mention of thy glory
        Is unction to the breast
        And medicine in sickness
        And love and life and rest.

        2. O one, O only mansion,
        O Paradise of joy,
        Where tears are ever banished
        And smiles have no alloy!
        The Lamb is all thy splendor,
        The Crucified thy praise;
        His laud and benediction
        Thy ransomed people raise.

        3. With jasper glow thy bulwarks,
        Thy streets with em'ralds blaze;
        The sardius and the topaz
        Unite in thee their rays;
        Thine ageless walls are bonded
        With amethyst unpriced;
        The saints build up thy fabric,
        The cornerstone is Christ.

        4. Thou hast no shore, fair ocean;
        Thou hast no time, bright day,
        Dear fountain of refreshment
        To pilgrims far away!
        Upon the Rock of Ages
        They raise thy holy tower;
        Thine is the victor's laurel
        And thine the golden dower.

        5. O sweet and blessed country,
        The home of God's elect!
        O sweet and blessed country
        That eager hearts expect!
        Jesus, in mercy bring us
        To that dear land of rest,
        Who art, with God the Father
        And Spirit, ever blest.

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        Notes:
        Hymn #614 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_
        Text: Hebrews 11:16
        Author: Bernard of Morlas, c. 1140, cento
        Translated by: John M. Neale, 1849
        Titled: "O bona patria"
        Tune: "Bona patria"
        1st Published in:  _Sacred Hymns and Tunes_
        Town: Bristol, 1876
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        This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg
          by Marilyn F. Gardner 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.
                                       
                          E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu

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