Here, O my God, low at Thy feet I bend me

Here, O my God, low at Thy feet I bend me

Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863); Author: Anonymous (18th century)
Published in 1 hymnal

Representative Text

Here, O my God, low at Thy feet I bend me,
Ready to suffer whatsoe'er Thou send me,
Yet look on me, great God, with pitying eyes,
Reward me not for mine iniquities.

My heart hath cherish'd sin, and fear'd no morrow,
Loved the broad, easy road that ends in sorrow;
Till now I learn, O sin, how keen thy smart,
O wrath of God, how terrible thou art!

Can I escape no I more? will no one find me
Some help to break the heavy chains that bind me?
Will man nor creature show me any place
Where I may flee and hide me from God's face?

Nay, I must flee to Him who can deliver,
In whom our life and hope are hid for ever;
What all the world must unaccomplish'd leave,
Thou, for Thou art Almighty, canst achieve.

Think on the covenant Thou hast never broken,
Think on the steadfast word Thyself hast spoken,
Know that I am a God, Thy promise saith,
Who hath no pleasure in a sinner's death.

Then let the arms of love be thrown around me
Have pity on me, Thou who thus hast found me,
Call back Thy sheep that, wandering far astray,
Was lost in sin, nor knew the homeward way.

O God, most merciful! my thankful spirit
Adores the goodness that I did not merit;
'T is meet in praising Thee my time I spend,
Here, and above, where praise shall never end.



Source: Chorale Book for England, The #45

Translator: Catherine Winkworth

Catherine Winkworth (b. Holborn, London, England, 1827; d. Monnetier, Savoy, France, 1878) is well known for her English translations of German hymns; her translations were polished and yet remained close to the original. Educated initially by her mother, she lived with relatives in Dresden, Germany, in 1845, where she acquired her knowledge of German and interest in German hymnody. After residing near Manchester until 1862, she moved to Clifton, near Bristol. A pioneer in promoting women's rights, Winkworth put much of her energy into the encouragement of higher education for women. She translated a large number of German hymn texts from hymnals owned by a friend, Baron Bunsen. Though often altered, these translations continue to be used i… Go to person page >

Author: Anonymous

In some hymnals, the editors noted that a hymn's author is unknown to them, and so this artificial "person" entry is used to reflect that fact. Obviously, the hymns attributed to "Author Unknown" "Unknown" or "Anonymous" could have been written by many people over a span of many centuries. Go to person page >

Text Information

First Line: Here, O my God, low at Thy feet I bend me
Author: Anonymous (18th century)
Translator: Catherine Winkworth (1863)
Language: English

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Chorale Book for England, The #45

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