Lord Bid Your Servant Go in Peace

This hymn is based on the Latin hymn, "Nunc Dimittis", which is in turn based on the Song of Simeon from Luke 2:29-32. This is is one of the infancy canticles that has been used in the daily prayer of the church since the 4th century. The hymn is particularly appropriate for remembering the presentation of Jesus in the temple.

The initial verses were written by Scottish Roman Catholic priest (Jesuit) and hymn-writer, James Quinn SJ (1919–2010), while a final one was added by a later Lutheran publisher.

With meter 8.6.8.6, tunes it has been set to include:

LAND OF REST, a traditional American tune, composer uncertain, from the shape-note tradition, in Kentucky Harmony 1816.
MORNING SONG, attributed to Elkanah Kelsey Dare (1782-1826).

Image adapt from Simeon's Song of Praise, Arent de Gelder (1645-1727)

Downloads

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Buy sheet music from OCP, tune LAND OF REST

Examples

Choir with organ, professional recording, tune MORNING SONG

Choir with organ, live in a church-service. Tune LAND OF REST

Singer with piano, words on-screen, tune LAND OF REST

Instrumental - organ. Tune LAND OF REST

Lyrics

The lyrics are copyright so cannot be reproduced here. But they are currently available on this website. A rough outline is:

Lord, bid Your servant go in peace,
Your word is now fulfilled.
These eyes have seen salvation’s dawn,
This child so long foretold.

This is the Saviour of the world,
The Gentiles’ promised light,
God’s glory dwelling in our midst,
The joy of Israel.

This child will see the rise, the fall,
Of those in Israel.
God's sign raised high for all to see,
Whom some shall yet deny.

His mother's soul a sword shall pierce
Of sorrow keen and deep.
And secret thoughts of many hearts
Through him shall be released.

Blest be the Father who has given
His son to be our Lord,
Blest too the Son, and with them both
The Spirit of their love.

Lutheran verse:
With saints of old, with saints to come,
To You we lift our voice; To Father, Son, and Spirit blest,
Be honour, love and praise.