"Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier" (literally: Dearest Jesus, we are here) is aLutheran hymn with text written byTobias Clausnitzer in 1663, and ahymn tune,Zahn No. 3498b, based on a 1664 melody byJohann Rudolph Ahle (Zahn No. 3498a).[2] A prayer for illumination, it is suitable for the opening of a church service and to be sung before a sermon. The song is part of the Protestant hymnalEvangelisches Gesangbuch as EG 161. It is also part of the Catholic hymnalGotteslob as GL 149. It is popular also in English translations such as "Blessed Jesus, at your word" byCatherine Winkworth.
Clausnitzer wrote the text "Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier" in 1663,[3] as a prayer for illumination.[4] It was often sung before a sermon in a church service, and also at the beginning of school lessons.[5][6]
The hymn is part of the German Protestant hymnalEvangelisches Gesangbuch, as EG 161.[7] It is part of the German Catholic hymnalGotteslob of 2013, as GL 149 in the sectionEröffnung (Opening),[3] and of many other hymnals and songbooks.[7] The song is published in more than 100 hymnals.[8]Catherine Winkworth translated it as "Blessed Jesus, at your word".[4] Other hymns sung to the same tune are "Blessed Jesus, here we stand" and "Word of God, Come Down on Earth".[1]
"Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier" is in threestanzas of six lines each. Thebar form has aStollen of two lines, and anAbgesang of two lines, with a rhyming scheme ABABCC.[5] The text is given as in GL 149, and in Winkworth's translation:
Liebster Jesu, wir sind hier, dich und dein Wort anzuhören; lenke Sinnen und Begier hin zu deinem Himmelslehren, daß die Herzen von der Erden ganz zu dir gezogen werden.
Unser Wissen und Verstand ist mit Finsternis umhüllet, wo nicht deines Geistes Hand uns mit hellem Licht erfüllet. Gutes denken, tun und dichten musst du selbst in uns verrichten.
O du Glanz der Herrlichkeit, Licht vom Licht, aus Gott geboren, mach uns allesamt bereit, öffne Herzen, Mund und Ohren; unser Bitten, Flehn und Singen laß, Herr Jesu, wohl gelingen.
Translation:
Blessed Jesus, at your word we are gathered all to hear you. Let our hearts and souls be stirred now to seek and love and fear you. By your gospel pure and holy, teach us, Lord, to love you solely.
All our knowledge, sense, and sight lie in deepest darkness shrouded, till your Spirit breaks our night with your beams of truth unclouded. You alone to God can win us; you must work all good within us.
Glorious Lord, yourself impart; Light of Light, from God proceeding, open lips and ears and heart; help us by your Spirit's leading. Hear the cry your church now raises; Lord, accept our prayers and praises.[4]
![<< <<
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Lieb4 -- ster Je -- su! wir sind hier,2
dich4 und dein Wort an -- zu -- hö2 -- ren;1
daß4 die Her -- zen von der Er -- den
ganz zu dir ge -- zo -- gen wer2 -- den.1
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len4 -- ke Si -- nnen und Be -- gier2
hin4 zu dei -- nem Him -- mels -- leh2 -- ren,1
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![<< <<
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\new Lyrics \lyricmode { \set stanza = #"2."
Un4 -- ser Wis -- sen und Ver -- stand2
ist4 mit Fin -- ster -- nis um -- hül2 -- let,
Gu4 -- tes den -- ken, tun und dich -- ten
musst4 du selbst in uns ver -- rich2 -- ten.
}
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wo4 nicht dei -- nes Gei -- stes Hand2
uns4 mit hel -- lem Licht er -- fül2 -- let.
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