When My Last Hour Is Close at Hand |
Nikolaus Herman, 1562, verse 5, 1575, unknown; tr. by Catherine Winkworth, 1869; German text
When my last hour is close at hand, Lord Jesus Christ, attend me; Beside me then, O Savior, stand To comfort and defend me. Into Thy hands I will commend My soul at this my earthly end, And Thou wilt keep it safely.
2. My sins, dear Lord, disturb me sore, | 3. I am a branch in Thee, the Vine, And hence the comfort borrow That Thou wilt surely keep me Thine Through fear and pain and sorrow; And when I die, I die to Thee, Thy precious death hath won for me The life that never endeth.
4. Since Thou the power of death didst rend, |
5. My spirit I commend to Thee And gladly hence betake me; Peaceful and calm my sleep shall be, No human voice can wake me. But Christ is with me through the strife, And He will bear me into life And open heaven before me. |