Thou Light of Gentile Nations (EN 3750)

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 once 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 around 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.