Lutheran Hymnal: 010 - O How Shall I Receive Thee

1 O how shall I receive Thee, How greet Thee, Lord, aright? All nations long to see Thee, My hope, my heart’s delight. O kindle, Lord most holy, Thy lamp within my breast, To do in spirit lowly All that may please Thee best. 2 Thy Zion palms is strewing, And branches fresh and fair; My heart, its powers renewing, An anthem shall prepare. My soul puts off her sadness Thy glories to proclaim; With all her strength and gladness She fain would serve Thy name. 3 Love caused Thy incarnation, Love brought Thee down to me; Thy thirst for my salvation Procured my liberty. O love beyond all telling, That led Thee to embrace, In love all love excelling, Our lost and fallen race. 4 Rejoice then, ye sad-hearted, Who sit in deepest gloom, Who mourn o’er joys departed And tremble at your doom. Despair not, He is near you, Is standing at the door, He who can help and cheer you And bids you weep no more. 5 Sin’s debt, that fearful burden, Let not your souls distress; Your guilt the Lord will pardon And cover with His grace. He comes, He comes, procuring The peace of sin forgiven, To all God’s sons securing Their heritage in heaven. 6 He comes to judge the nations, And brings His foes to naught; He comes with consolations To those who grace have sought. O hasten Thine appearing, Thou sun eternal, come, Send forth Thy beams so cheering And guide us safely home.