Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face
General information
Lyricist: Horatio Bonar
Settings by composers
- Joseph Barnby SATB
- Percy Whitlock SATB (vv.1-2 only)
Texts and Translations
English text
1 Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face;
Here would we touch and handle things unseen;
Here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace
And all my weariness upon Thee lean.
2 Here would I feed upon the bread of God,
Here drink with Thee the royal wine of heaven;
Here would I lay aside each earthly load,
Here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven.
3 This is the hour of banquet and of song;
This is the heavenly table spread for me;
Here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong
The brief, bright hour of fellowship with Thee.
4 Too soon we rise, the symbols disappear;
The feast, though not the love, is past and done;
Gone are the bread and wine, but Thou art here,
Nearer than ever, still my Shield and Sun.
5 Feast after feast thus comes, and passes by;
Yet passing, points to the glad feast above;
Giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy,
The Lamb's great bridal feast of bliss and love.