Lord Jesus Christ Be Present Now

This hymn was translated to English by Catherine Winkworth (1827-1878) and first published in The Chor­ale Book for Eng­land, 1863.

It is based on "Herr Jesu Christ, dich zu uns wend", a hymn by Wilhelm II, Duke of Sachs-Weimar (1598-1662)which was published in 1651.

With meter 8.8.8.8, it is set to the tune HERR JESU CHRIST attributed to Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750), which was published in the Cantionale Germanicum in 1628.

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Examples

As the first hymn in a church service:

Sung by a male choir (starts around 1:35).


Faith and Life Male Choir - Lord Jesus Christ Be Present Now from Mennonite Church Manitoba on Vimeo.

Instrumental version - solo violin

Lyrics:

Lord Jesus Christ, be present now;
Our hearts in true devotion bow.
Your Spirit send with light divine,
And let your truth within us shine.

Unseal our lips to sing your praise
In endless hymns through all our days;
Increase our faith and light our minds;
And set us free from doubt that binds.

Then shall we join the hosts that cry,
"O holy, holy, Lord Most High!"
And in the light of that blest place
We then shall see you face to face.

All glory to the Father, Son,
And Holy Spirit, Three in One!
To you, O blessed Trinity,
be praise throughout eternity!