Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness

318 Deck Thyself, My Soul, with Gladness

1 Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness,
   leave the gloomy haunts of sadness;
   come into the daylight's splendour,
   there with joy thy praises render
   unto him whose grace unbounded
   hath this wondrous banquet founded:
   high o'er all the heavens he reigneth,
   yet to dwell with thee he deigneth.

2 Sun, who all my life dost brighten,
   light, who dost my soul enlighten,
   joy, the sweetest heart e'er knoweth,
   fount, whence all my being floweth,
   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.

3 Jesus, Bread of Life, I pray thee,
   let me gladly here obey thee;
   never to my hurt invited,
   be thy love with love requited:
   from this banquet let me measure,
   Lord, how vast and deep its treasure;
   through the gifts thou here dost give me,
   as thy guest in heaven receive me.
                         Johann Franck
                         Trans. by Catherine Winkworth
                         Methodist Hymnal, 1964 edition

<idle musing>
Found in only about 120 hymnals, hymnary.org inserts a verse:

2 Now I sink before thee lowly,
   filled with joy most deep and holy,
   as with trembling awe and wonder
   on thy mighty works I ponder:
   how, by mystery surrounded,
   depth no mortal ever sounded,
   none may dare to pierce unbidden
   secrets that with thee are hidden.

</idle musing>