Words: , 1863 (Naar Synderen ret ser sin Vaade); translated from Norwegian to English by , 1909, alt. Music: Wer Weiss, Wie Nahe, , 1818. |
When sinners see their lost condition
And feel the pressing load of sin,
And Jesus cometh on His mission
To heal the sin-sick heart within,
All grief must flee before His grace,
And joy divine will take its place.
When Jesus enters meek and lowly
To fill the home with sweetest peace;
When hearts have felt His blessing holy
And found from sin complete release,
Then light and calm within shall reign
And hearts divided love again.
When Jesus enters land and nation
And moves the people with His love;
When, yielding to His kind persuasion,
Our hearts His truth and blessing prove,
Then shall our life on earth be blest,
The peace of God on us shall rest.
When Jesus comes—O blessèd story!—
He works a change in heart and life;
God’s kingdom comes with pow’r and glory
To young and old, to man and wife;
Thro’ sacrament and living Word,
Faith, love, and hope are now conferred.
Then stilled are cries and lamentation,
Then loosed is Satan’s every band;
In death is hope and consolation,
The soul is safe in Jesus’ hand.
When we shall walk through death’s dark vale,
His rod and staff shall never fail.
Oh, may He soon to every nation
Find entrance where He is unknown,
With life and light and full salvation,
That heathendom may be o’erthrown
And healing to the hearts may come
In heathen land and Christian home!