O love divine, how sweet thou art: Difference between revisions

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==General information==
==General information==
Lyricist [[Charles Wesley]]
'''O love divine, how sweet thou art''' is a hymn by [[Charles Wesley]]. It was first published as Hymn XIX on pp47-49 of ''Hymns on the Great Festivals'', London: for M. Cooper, 1746, under the heading 'Desiring to Love'.


==Settings by composers==
==Settings by composers==
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*[[O love divine, how sweet thou art (James Leach)|James Leach]] SATB
*[[O love divine, how sweet thou art (James Leach)|James Leach]] SATB
*[[O love divine, how sweet thou art (Samuel Sebastian Wesley)|Samuel Sebastian Wesley]] SATB
*[[O love divine, how sweet thou art (Samuel Sebastian Wesley)|Samuel Sebastian Wesley]] SATB
{{TextAutoList}}
==Text and translations==
{{Text|English|
{{Vs|1}} O love divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my longing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, and die, to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
The love of Christ to me.


==Original text and translations==
{{Vs|2}} Stronger his love, than death or hell;
{{Text|English}}
Its riches are unsearchable:
{{Top}}
The first-born sons of light
<poem>
Desire in vain its depth to see;
1. O love divine, how sweet thou art!
They cannot reach the mystery,
When shall I find my longing heart
The length, and breadth, and height.
all taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint and die to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
The love of Christ to me.


2. Stronger his love than death or hell;
{{Vs|3}} God only knows the love of God.
Its riches are unsearchable:
O that it now were shed abroad
The first-born sons of light
In this poor stony heart!
Desire in vain its depth to see
For love I sigh, for love I pine:
They cannot reach the mystery,
This only portion, Lord, be mine,
The length and breadth and height.
Be mine this better part!
</poem>


{{Middle}}
{{Vs|4}} O that I could for ever sit,
With Mary, at the Master's feet!
Be this my happy choice!
My only care, delight, and bliss,
My joy, my heav'n on earth be this,
To hear the Bridegroom's voice.


<poem>
{{Vs|5}} O that with humbled Peter I
3. God only knows the love of God;
Could weep, believe, and thrice reply,
O that it now were shed abroad
My faithfulness to prove!
In this poor stony heart!
Thou know'st, for all to thee is known,
For love I sigh, for love I pine;
Thou know'st, O Lord, and thou alone,
This only portion, Lord, be mine,
Thou know'st, that thee I love.
be mine this better part.
 
{{Vs|6}} O that I could, with favour'd John,
4. For ever would I take my seat
Recline my weary head upon
With Mary at the Master's feet:
The dear Redeemer's breast!
Be this my happy choice;
From care, and sin, and sorrow free,
My only care, delight and bliss
Give me, O Lord, to find in thee
My joy, my heaven on earth, be this,
My everlasting rest.
To hear the Bridegroom's voice.
 
</poem>
{{Vs|7}} Thy only love do I require,
{{bottom}}
Nothing on earth beneath desire,
Nothing in heaven above:
Let earth and heaven, and all things go,
Give me thine only love to know,
Give me thine only love.}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[https://divinity.duke.edu/sites/divinity.duke.edu/files/documents/cswt/38_Festival_Hymns_%281746%29.pdf ''Hymns on the Great Festivals'', London: for M. Cooper, 1746, description and transcription by the Duke Center for Studies in the Wesleyan Tradition]


[[Category:Text pages]]
[[Category:Text pages]]

Latest revision as of 20:50, 30 October 2015

General information

O love divine, how sweet thou art is a hymn by Charles Wesley. It was first published as Hymn XIX on pp47-49 of Hymns on the Great Festivals, London: for M. Cooper, 1746, under the heading 'Desiring to Love'.

Settings by composers

Other settings possibly not included in the manual list above

Text and translations

English.png English text

1  O love divine, how sweet thou art!
When shall I find my longing heart
All taken up by thee?
I thirst, I faint, and die, to prove
The greatness of redeeming love,
The love of Christ to me.

2  Stronger his love, than death or hell;
Its riches are unsearchable:
The first-born sons of light
Desire in vain its depth to see;
They cannot reach the mystery,
The length, and breadth, and height.

3  God only knows the love of God.
O that it now were shed abroad
In this poor stony heart!
For love I sigh, for love I pine:
This only portion, Lord, be mine,
Be mine this better part!

4  O that I could for ever sit,
With Mary, at the Master's feet!
Be this my happy choice!
My only care, delight, and bliss,
My joy, my heav'n on earth be this,
To hear the Bridegroom's voice.

5  O that with humbled Peter I
Could weep, believe, and thrice reply,
My faithfulness to prove!
Thou know'st, for all to thee is known,
Thou know'st, O Lord, and thou alone,
Thou know'st, that thee I love.

6  O that I could, with favour'd John,
Recline my weary head upon
The dear Redeemer's breast!
From care, and sin, and sorrow free,
Give me, O Lord, to find in thee
My everlasting rest.

7  Thy only love do I require,
Nothing on earth beneath desire,
Nothing in heaven above:
Let earth and heaven, and all things go,
Give me thine only love to know,
Give me thine only love.

External links