1. Lord Jesus, Light of nations,
   Thou Savior from above,
   Drawn by Thy Spirit’s leading,
   We come with joy and love
   Into Thy holy temple
   And wait with earnest mind
   As Simeon had waited
   His God and Lord to find.

2. Yea, Lord, Thy servants meet Thee
   In ev’ry holy place
   Where Thy true Word has promised
   That we should see Thy face.
   Today Thou still dost grant us
   Who gather round Thee here
   In arms of faith to bear Thee
   As did that aged seer.

3. Be Thou our Joy and Brightness,
   Our Cheer in pain and loss,
   Our Sun in darkest terror,
   The Glory round our cross,
   A Star for sinking spirits,
   A Beacon in distress,
   Physician, Friend, in sickness,
   In death our Happiness.

4. Let us, O Lord, be faithful
   Like Simeon to the end,
   So that his prayer exultant
   May from our hearts ascend:
   “O Lord, now let Thy servant
   Depart in peace, I pray,
   Since I have seen my Savior
   And here beheld His day.”

5. My Savior, I behold Thee
   With faith’s enlightened eye;
   Of Thee no foe can rob me,
   His threats I can defy.
   Within Thy heart abiding,
   As Thou, O Lord, in me,
   Death can no longer frighten
   Nor part my soul from Thee.

6. Lord, here on earth Thou seemest
   At times to frown on me,
   And through my tears I often
   Can scarce distinguish Thee;
   But in the heav’nly mansions
   Shall nothing dim my sight;
   There shall I see Thy glory
   In never-changing light.

Herr Jesu, Licht der Heiden
Johann Franck, 1674
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1863, alt.
Source: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 138, alt.