Words: , Heil­ige Seel­e­nlust, 1657 (Ich will dich lie­ben, meine Stärke); trans­lat­ed from Ger­man to Eng­lish by , 1863, alt.

Music: Ich Will Dich Lieb­en, Har­mon­isch­er Lied­er­schaft (Frank­furt, Ger­ma­ny: 1738).


Thee will I love, my Strength, my Tower;
Thee will I love, my Hope, my Joy;
Thee will I love with all my power,
With ardor time will ne’er destroy.
Thee will I love, O Light Divine,
So long as life is mine.

Thee will I love, my Life, my Savior,
Who art my best and truest Friend;
Thee will I love and praise forever,
For never shall Thy kindness end;
Thee will I love with all my heart,
Thou my Redeemer art.

I thank Thee, Jesus, Sun from Heaven,
Whose radiance hath brought light to me;
I thank Thee, who hast richly given
All that could make me glad and free;
I thank Thee that my soul is healed
By what Thy lips revealed.

Oh, keep me watchful, then, and humble
And suffer me no more to stray;
Uphold me when my feet would stumble,
Nor let me loiter by the way.
Fill all my nature with Thy light,
O Radiance strong and bright!

Oh, teach me, Lord, to love Thee truly
With soul and body, head and heart,
And grant me grace that I may duly
Practice fore’er love’s sacred art.
Grant that my every thought may be
Directed e’er to Thee.

Thee will I love, my Crown of gladness;
Thee will I love, my God and Lord,
Amid the darkest depths of sadness,
Nor for the hope of high reward—
For Thine own sake, O Light Divine,
So long as life is mine.