"A Lamb Goes Uncomplaining Forth"

                           by Paul Gerhardt, 1607-1676

                                          Text From:

                 THE HANDBOOK TO THE LUTHERAN HYMNAL

        (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1942), pp. 110-111







	1. A Lamb goes uncomplaining forth,

	The guilt of all men bearing;

	And laden with the sins of earth,

	None else the burden sharing!

	Goes patient on, grow weak and faint,

	To slaughter led without complaint,

	That spotless life to offer;

	Bears shame and stripes, and wounds and death,

	Anguish and mockery, and saith,

	"Willing all this I suffer."





	2. This Lamb is Christ, the soul's great Friend,

	The Lamb of God, our Savior;

	Him God the Father chose to send

	To gain for us His favor.

	"Go forth, My Son," the Father saith,

	"And free men from the fear of death,

	From guilt and condemnation.

	The wrath and stripes are hard to bear,

	But by Thy Passion men shall share

	The fruit of Thy salvation."



	3. "Yea, Father, yea, most willingly

	I'll bear what Thou commandest;

	My will conforms to Thy decree,

	I do what Thou demandest."

	O wondrous Love, what hast Thou done!

	The Father offers up His Son!

	The Son, content, descendeth!

	O Love, how strong Thou art to save!

	Thou beddest Him within the grave

	Whose word the mountains rendeth.



	4. From morn till eve my theme shall be

	Thy mercy's wondrous measure;

	To sacrifice myself for Thee

	Shall be my aim and pleasure.

	My stream of life shall ever be

	A current flowing ceaselessly,

	Thy constant praise outpouring.

	I'll treasure in my memory,

	O Lord, all Thou hast done for me,

	Thy gracious love adoring.



	5. Of death I am no more afraid,

	New life from Thee is flowing;

	Thy cross affords me cooling shade

	When noonday's sun is glowing.

	When by my grief I am opprest,

	On Thee my weary soul shall rest

	Serenely as on pillows.

	Thou art my Anchor when by woe

	My bark is driven to and fro

	On trouble's surging billows.



	6. And when Thy glory I shall see

	And taste Thy kingdom's pleasure,

	Thy blood my royal robe shall be,

	My joy beyond all measure.

	When I appear before Thy throne,

	Thy righteousness shall be my crown,-

	With these I need not hide me.

	And there, in garments richly wrought

	As Thine own bride, I shall be brought

	To stand in joy beside Thee.



	


	Notes:

	Hymn #142 from The Handbook to the Lutheran Hymnal

	Text: Is. 53: 7

	Author: Paul Gerhardt, 1648, cento

	Translated by: composite

	Titled: Ein Laemmlein geht

	Tune: An Wasserfluessen Babylon

	1st Published in: "Deutsch Kirchenamt"

	Town: Strassburg, 1525