A Preparation for the Holy Supper.

1. Soul, adorn thyself with gladness,
   Leave behind all gloom and sadness;
   Come into the daylight’s splendor,
   There with joy thy praises render
   Unto Him whose grace unbounded
   Hath this wondrous Supper founded.
   High o’er all the heav’ns He reigneth,
   Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth.

2. Hasten as a bride to meet Him
   And with loving rev’rence greet Him;
   For with words of life immortal
   Now He knocketh at thy portal.
   Haste to ope the gates before Him,
   Saying, while thou dost adore Him,
   “Suffer, Lord, that I receive Thee,
   And I nevermore will leave Thee.”

3. He who craves a precious treasure
   Neither cost nor pain will measure;
   But the priceless gifts of heaven
   God to us hath freely given.
   Though the wealth of earth were proferred,
   Naught would buy the gifts here offered:
   Christ’s true body, for thee riven,
   And His blood, for thee once given.

4. Ah, how hungers all my spirit
   For the love I do not merit!
   Oft have I, with sighs fast thronging,
   Thought upon this food with longing.
   In the battle well-night worsted,
   For this cup of life have thirsted,
   For the Friend who here invites us
   And to God Himself unites us.

5. In my heart I find ascending
   Holy awe, with rapture blending,
   As this mystery I ponder,
   Filling all my soul with wonder,
   Bearing witness at this hour
   Of the greatness of God’s power;
   Far beyond all human telling
   Is the pow’r within Him dwelling.

6. Human reason, though it ponder,
   Cannot fathom this great wonder
   That Christ’s body e’er remaineth
   Though it countless souls sustaineth
   And that He His blood is giving
   With the wine we are receiving.
   These great mysteries unsounded
   Are by God alone expounded.

7. Jesus, Sun of Life, my Splendor,
   Jesus, Thou my Friend most tender,
   Jesus, Joy of my desiring,
   Fount of life, my soul inspiring:
   At Thy feet I cry, my Maker,
   Let me be a fit partaker
   Of this blessed food from heaven,
   For our good, Thy glory, given.

8. Lord, by love and mercy driven
   Thou hast left Thy throne in heaven
   On the cross for me to languish
   And to die in bitter anguish,
   To forego all joy and gladness
   And to shed Thy blood in sadness.
   By this blood redeemed and living,
   Lord, I praise Thee with thanksgiving.

9. Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray Thee,
   Let me gladly here obey Thee.
   By Thy love I am invited,
   Be Thy love with love requited;
   From this Supper let me measure,
   Lord, how vast and deep love’s treasure.
   Through the gifts Thou here dost give me
   As Thy guest in heav’n receive me.

Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele
Johann Franck, 1649
Tr. Catherine Winkworth, 1858, alt.
Source: The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941, No. 305