Words: , 1710, cen­to (Ich komm’ zu dein­em Ab­end­mahle); com­po­site trans­la­tion.

Music: Ich Sterbe Täglich, in the Ems­kirch­ner Chor­al­buch man­u­script in the mu­ni­ci­pal lib­ra­ry in Leip­zig, Ger­ma­ny, 1756.


I come, O Savior, to Thy table,
For weak and weary is my soul;
Thou, Bread of Life, alone art able
To satisfy and make me whole:

Refrain

Lord, may Thy body and Thy blood
Be for my soul the highest good!

Oh, grant that I in manner worthy
May now approach Thy heav’nly board
And, as I lowly bow before Thee,
Look only unto Thee, O Lord!

Refrain

Unworthy though I am, O Savior,
Because I have a a sinful heart,
Yet Thou Thy lamb wilt banish never,
For Thou my faithful Shepherd art:

Refrain

Oh, let me loathe all sin forever
As death and poison to my soul
That I through willful sinning never
May see Thy judgment take its toll!

Refrain

Thy heart is filled with fervent yearning
That sinners may salvation see
Who, Lord, to Thee in faith are turning;
So I, a sinner, come to Thee.

Refrain

Weary am I and heavy laden,
With sin my soul is sore opprest;
Receive me graciously and gladden
My heart, for I am now Thy guest.

Refrain

Thou here wilt find a heart most lowly
That humbly falls before Thy feet,
That duly weeps o’er sin, yet solely
Thy merit pleads, as it is meet.

Refrain

By faith I call Thy holy table
The testament of Thy deep love;
For, lo, thereby I now am able
To see how love Thy heart doth move.

Refrain

What higher gift can we inherit?
It is faith’s bond and solid base;
It is the strength of heart and spirit,
The covenant of hope and grace.

Refrain

This feast is manna, wealth abounding
Unto the poor, to weak ones power,
To angels joy, to hell confounding,
And life for me in death’s dark hour.

Refrain

Thy body, giv’n for me, O Savior,
Thy blood which Thou for me didst shed,
These are my life and strength forever,
By them my hungry soul is fed.

Refrain

With Thee, Lord, I am now united;
I live in Thee and Thou in me.
No sorrow fills my soul, delighted
It finds its only joy in Thee.

Refrain

Who can condemn me now? For surely
The Lord is nigh, who justifies.
No hell I fear, and thus securely
With Jesus I to Heaven rise.

Refrain

Though death may threaten with disaster,
It cannot rob me of my cheer;
For He Who is of death the Master,
With aid and comfort e’er is near.

Refrain

My heart has now become Thy dwelling,
O blessèd, holy Trinity.
With angels I, Thy praises telling,
Shall live in joy eternally.

Refrain