Lord Jesus Christ, My Life, My Light

Lord Jesus Christ, my Life, my Light, My Strength by day, my Trust by night, On earth I'm but a passing guest And sorely with my sins opprest. 2. Far off I see my fatherland, Where through Thy blood I hope to stand. But ere I reach that Paradise, A weary way before me lies. 3. My heart sulks at the journey's length, My wasted flesh has little strength; My soul alone still cries in me: "Lord, take me home, take me to Thee!" 4. Oh, let Thy sufferings give me power To meet the last and darkest hour! Thy blood refresh and comfort me; Thy bonds and fetters make me free. 5. The blows and stripes that fell on Thee Heal up the wounds of sin in me; Thy crown of thorns, Thy foes' mad spite, Let my glory and delight. 6. That thirst and bitter draught of Thine Cause me to bear with patience mine; Thy piercing cry uphold my soul When floods of anguish o'er me roll! 7. And when my spirit flies away, Thy dying words shall be my stay. Thy cross shall be my staff in life, Thy holy grave my rest from strife.

8. And when my lips grow white and chill, Thy Spirit cry within me still And help my soul Thy heaven to find When these poor eyes grow dark and blind! 9. Lord, in Thy nail-prints let me read That Thou to save me hast decreed And grant that in Thine opened side My troubled soul may ever hide. 10. Thy cross shall be my staff in life, Thy holy grave my rest from strife; The winding-sheet that covered Thee, Oh, let it be a shroud for me. 11. Since Thou hast died, the Pure, the Just. I take my homeward way in trust. The gates of heaven, Lord, open wide When here I may no more abide. 12. And when the last Great Day shall come And Thou, our Judge, shalt speak the doom, Let me with joy behold the light And set me then upon Thy right. 13. Renew this wasted flesh of mine That like the sun it there may shine Among the angels pure and bright, Yea, like Thyself in glorious light. 14. Ah, then I'll have my heart's desire, When, singing with the angels' choir, Among the ransomed of Thy grace, Forever I'll behold Thy face!

5. (not by Behm) Oh, let Thy holy wounds for me Clefts in the rock forever be Where as a dove my soul can hide And safe from Satan's rage abide.