1. O Lord, how shall I meet Thee,
   How welcome Thee aright?
   Thy people long to greet Thee,
   My Hope, my heart’s Delight!
   Oh, kindle, Lord most holy,
   Thy lamp within my breast
   To do in spirit lowly
   All that may please Thee best.

2. Thy Zion strews before Thee
   Green boughs and fairest palms,
   And I, too, will adore Thee
   With joyous songs and psalms.
   My heart shall bloom forever
   For Thee with praises new
   And from Thy name shall never
   Withhold the honor due.

3. What hast Thou left ungranted
   To give me glad relief?
   When soul and body panted
   In utmost depth of grief,
   In deepest degradation,
   Devoid of joy and peace,
   Then Thou, my soul’s Salvation,
   Didst come to bring release.

4. I lay in fetters, groaning,
   Thou com’st to set me free;
   I stood, my shame bemoaning,
   Thou com’st to honor me;
   A glory Thou dost give me,
   A treasure safe on high,
   That will not fail or leave me
   As earthly riches fly.

5. Love caused Thine incarnation,
   Love brought Thee down to me;
   Thy thirst for my salvation
   Procured my liberty.
   O Love beyond all telling,
   That led Thee to embrace,
   In love all love excelling,
   Our lost and fallen race!

6. Rejoice, then, ye sad-hearted,
   Who sit in deepest gloom,
   Who mourn o’er joys departed
   And tremble at your doom.
   Despair not, He is near you,
   Yea, standing at the door,
   Who best can help and cheer you
   And bids you weep no more.

7. Ye need not toil nor languish
   Nor ponder day and night
   How in the midst of anguish
   Ye draw Him by your might.
   He comes, He comes all willing,
   Moved by His love alone,
   Your woes and troubles stilling;
   For all to Him are known.

8. Sin’s debt, that fearful burden,
   Let not your souls distress;
   Your guilt the Lord will pardon
   And cover by His grace.
   He comes, for men procuring
   The peace of sin forgiv’n,
   For all God’s sons securing
   Their heritage in heav’n.

9. What though the foes be raging,
   Heed not their craft and spite;
   Your Lord, the battle waging,
   Will scatter all their might.
   He comes, a King most glorious,
   And all His earthly foes
   In vain His course victorious
   Endeavor to oppose.

10. He comes to judge the nations,
    A terror to His foes,
    A Light of consolations
    And blessed hope to those
    Who love the Lord’s appearing.
    O glorious Sun, now come,
    Send forth Thy beams most cheering,
    And guide us safely home.

Wie soll ich dich empfangen
Paul Gerhardt, 1653
Tr. composite
Source: Sts. 1–2, 4–10, The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 58
St. 3, Evangelical Lutheran Hymn-Book, 1927, No. 136