Der gute Hirte Jesus / the good shepherd / Friedenskirche Hanau-Kesselstadt, originally uploaded by amras_de.

Great Shepherd, who leadest Thy people in love,
’Mid cherubim dwelling, shine Thou from above;
In might come and save us, Thy people restore,
And we shall be saved when Thy face shines once more.

O haste, Lord, to hear us and pity our woes,
Afflictions our portion, despised by our foes;
O Lord God Almighty, in mercy restore,
And we shall be saved when Thy face shines once more.

A place for Thy people, Thou, Lord, didst prepare,
Thy vine deeply rooted rewarded Thy care;
Its branches like cedars, majestic and free,
Spread over the mountains from river to sea.

Thy vineyard no longer Thy tender care knows,
Defenseless, the victim and spoil of her foes;
O turn, we beseech Thee, all glory is Thine,
Look down in Thy mercy and visit Thy vine.

The branch of Thy planting is burned and cut down,
Brought nigh to destruction because of Thy frown;
The man of Thy right hand with wisdom endue,
The son of man strengthen Thy pleasure to do.

When Thou shalt revive us Thy Name we shall praise,
And nevermore turning, depart from Thy ways;
O Lord God Almighty, in mercy restore,
And we shall be saved when Thy face shines once more.

(Wednesday's daily office readings included Eph. 5:14 - Therefore it says, "AWAKE, O SLEEPER AND ARISE FROM THE DEAD AND CHRIST WILL SHINE ON YOU." Is Paul quoting an early Christian Hymn? This took me to Ps 80 with the theme of God's face shining upon us.  The Face of Jesus Shining on me; a sleeper risen from the dead with Jesus.  SOUNDS WONDERFUL ! ! ! )

From The Psal­ter (Pitts­burgh, Penn­syl­van­ia: The Unit­ed Pres­by­ter­i­an Board of Pub­li­ca­tion, 1912), num­ber 220.

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