Lord, I Long to Live Before You

Lord, I Long to Live Before You

1. Lord, I long to live before You,
Day and night alike are one realm to me;
Do not let my heart be merry,
If I crave anything besides Yourself.
Every moment, every day, whatever the suffering,
When the merry amusements of the world fade away,
My heart is grieved, tears pour down,
O Lord, calm my sighs and complaints.

2. When a sweet life comes to my mind,
Come, my Lord, and enjoy it with me!
Do not leave me to live alone,
And do not let me choose by myself!
Whenever I sit pensive in the silence,
O Jesus, I ask You to be by my side;
As each dawn approaches, while I am still dreaming,
Rouse my ear, and give a whisper.

3. When I read Your holy word,
I need the shining of Your glorious light;
That I may see Your state,
And Your great gifts, all of them mine.
Before Your throne I now kneel,
Grant my prayer, give me Your grace;
Forgive all my faults,
Do not withdraw Your presence from me.

4. Whenever I recall heavenly bliss,
To behold Your face soon is what my heart desires,
Your return, only that, I now await,
Your being with me always makes my heart glad.
Teach me to live before You every day,
All my life I seek nothing else,
That Your good pleasure toward me may be proved,
In my thoughts and in my delights.

This hymn is in the Hymns book translated by Yasperin. Hymn 290