A Heartfelt Song of Thanks and Praise Following the Reception of the Most Precious Holy Supper.

1. O living Bread from heaven,
   How richly hast Thou fed Thy guest!
   The gifts Thou now hast given
   Have filled my heart with joy and rest.
   O wondrous food of blessing,
   O cup that heals our woes!
   My heart, this gift professing,
   In thankful songs o’erflows;
   For while the faith within me
   Was quickened by this food,
   My soul hath gazed upon Thee,
   My highest, only Good.

2. My God, Thou here hast led me
   Within Thy temple’s holiest place
   And there Thyself hast fed me
   With all the treasures of Thy grace;
   And Thou hast freely given
   What earth could never buy,
   The Bread of Life from heaven,
   That now I shall not die;
   Thou unto me hast granted
   That I the blessed wine
   Should take by faith implanted,
   And be forever Thine.

3. Thou givest all I’ve wanted,
   The food whose pow’r can death destroy,
   And Thou hast freely granted
   The cup of full eternal joy;
   Ah, Lord, I do not merit
   The favor Thou hast shown,
   And all my soul and spirit
   Bow down before Thy throne;
   Since Thou, O Lord, hast fed me
   The bread of angels here,
   Though sin and death beset me,
   My foes I shall not fear.

4. As long as I am living,
   I shall, dear Jesus, praise Thee well,
   For Thou, Thyself here giving,
   Hast made me satisfied and full.
   Thou unto me hast given
   To drink Thy precious blood,
   And turned to me from heaven,
   Thou great and matchless Good!
   I shall not die forever,
   Since unto me is fed
   He who shall perish never,
   My Comfort, Shield, and Head.

5. O Love uncomprehended!
   That wrought in Thee, Lord Jesus, thus,
   That Thou shouldst have descended
   From highest heav’n to dwell with us!
   Creator, that hath brought Thee
   Thy succor to impart!
   Oh, grant to me who’ve sought Thee
   A meek and lowly heart
   That trusts Thy grace and favor,
   And when my time is o’er,
   May I Thy face, O Savior,
   Behold forevermore.

6. For as a shadow passes
   Pass I, but Thou dost still endure;
   I wither like the grasses,
   But Thou art rich, though I am poor;
   Oh, boundless is Thy kindness,
   And righteous is Thy pow’r,
   While I in sinful blindness
   Am erring hour by hour;
   And yet Thou com’st not spurning
   A sinner, Lord, like me!
   Thy grace and love returning,
   What gift have I for Thee?

7. A heart that hath repented
   And mourns for sin with bitter sighs,—
   Thou, Lord, art well contented
   With this my only sacrifice.
   I know that in my weakness
   Thou wilt despise me not,
   But grant me in Thy meekness
   The blessing I have sought;
   Yes, Thou wilt hear with favor
   The song that now I raise,
   For meet and right ’tis ever
   That I should sing Thy praise.

8. Grant what I have partaken
   May through Thy grace so work in me
   That sin be all forsaken
   And I may cleave alone to Thee
   And all my soul be heedful
   How I Thy love may know;
   For this alone is needful
   Thy love should in me glow.
   Then let no beauty ever,
   No joy, allure my heart,
   But what is Thine, my Savior,
   What Thou dost here impart.

9. Oh, well for me that, strengthened
   With heav’nly food and comfort here,
   Howe’er my course be lengthened,
   I now may serve Thee free from fear!
   Away, then, earthly pleasure!
   All earthly gifts are vain;
   I seek a heav’nly treasure,
   My home I long to gain,
   My God, where I shall praise Thee,
   Where none my peace destroy,
   And where my soul shall raise Thee
   Glad songs in endless joy.

Wie wohl hast du gelabet
Johann Rist, 1651
Sts. 1–3, 5–9, tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.
St. 4, tr. Christopher J. Neuendorf, 2015
Source: Sts. 1–2a, 6b–9, The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 316
Sts. 2b–3, 5–6a, Lyra Germanica, Second Series: The Christian Life, 1858