"Like the Golden Sun Ascending"

                    by Thomas Kingo, 1634-1703

        Translated by George A.T. Rygh, 1860-1942

                                  Text From:

                       THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1941)







        1. Like the golden sun ascending,

        Breaking through the gloom of night,

        On the earth his glory spending

        So that darkness takes to flight,

        Thus my Jesus from the grave

        And Death's dismal, dreadful cave

        Rose triumphant Easter morning

        At the early purple dawning.



        2. Thanks to Thee, O Christ victorious!

        Thanks to Thee, O Lord of Life!

        Death hath now no power o'er us,

        Thou hast conquered in the strife.

        Thanks because Thou didst arise

        And hast opened Paradise!

        None can fully sing the glory

        Of the resurrection story.



        3. Though I be by sin o'ertaken,

        Though I lie in helplessness,

        Though I be by friends forsaken

        And must suffer sore distress,

        Though I be despised, contemned,

        And by all the world condemned,

        Though the dark grave yawn before me,

        Yet the light of hope shines o'er me.



        4. Thou hast died for my transgression,

        All my sins on Thee were laid;

        Thou hast won for me salvation,

        On the cross my debt was paid.

        From the grave I shall arise

        And shall meet Thee in the skies.

        Death itself is transitory;

        I shall lift my head in glory.



        5. Grant me grace, O blessed Savior,

        And Thy Holy Spirit send

        That my walk and my behavior

        May be pleasing to the end;

        That I may not fall again

        Into death's grim pit and pain,

        Whence by grace Thou hast retrieved me

        And from which Thou hast relieved me.



        6. For the joy Thy advent gave me,

        For Thy holy, precious Word;

        For Thy Baptism, which doth save me,

        For Thy blest Communion board;

        For Thy death, the bitter scorn,

        For Thy resurrection morn,

        Lord, I thank Thee and extol Thee,

        And in heaven I shall behold Thee.



        


        Notes:

        Hymn #207 from _The Lutheran Hymnal_

        Text: Acts 2: 32

        Author: Thomas Kingo, 1689, cento

        Translated by: George A.T. Rygh, 1908

        Titled: "Som den gyldne Sol frembryder"

        Composer: Johann Schop, 1642

        Tune: "Werde munter"