"For Thee, O Dear, Dear Country" by Bernard of Morlas, 12th century Translated by John M. Neale, 1818-1866 Text From: THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941) 1. For thee, O dear, dear country, Mine eyes their vigils keep; For very love, beholding Thy happy name, they weep. The mention of thy glory Is unction to the breast And medicine in sickness And love and life and rest. 2. O one, O only mansion, O Paradise of joy, Where tears are ever banished And smiles have no alloy! The Lamb is all thy splendor, The Crucified thy praise; His laud and benediction Thy ransomed people raise. 3. With jasper glow thy bulwarks, Thy streets with em'ralds blaze; The sardius and the topaz Unite in thee their rays; Thine ageless walls are bonded With amethyst unpriced; The saints build up thy fabric, The cornerstone is Christ. 4. Thou hast no shore, fair ocean; Thou hast no time, bright day, Dear fountain of refreshment To pilgrims far away! Upon the Rock of Ages They raise thy holy tower; Thine is the victor's laurel And thine the golden dower. 5. O sweet and blessed country, The home of God's elect! O sweet and blessed country That eager hearts expect! Jesus, in mercy bring us To that dear land of rest, Who art, with God the Father And Spirit, ever blest. ________________________________________________ Notes: Hymn #614 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_ Text: Hebrews 11:16 Author: Bernard of Morlas, c. 1140, cento Translated by: John M. Neale, 1849 Titled: "O bona patria" Tune: "Bona patria" 1st Published in: _Sacred Hymns and Tunes_ Town: Bristol, 1876 ______________________________________________________________________ This text was converted to ascii format for Project Wittenberg by Marilyn F. Gardner and is in the public domain. You may freely distribute, copy or print this text. Please direct any comments or suggestions to: Rev. Robert E. Smith of the Walther Library at Concordia Theological Seminary. E-mail: bob_smith@ctsfw.edu Surface Mail: 6600 N. Clinton St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46825 USA Phone: (219) 452-2148 Fax: (219) 452-2126 ______________________________________________________________________