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| I WANT to love Thee, strength divine, | |
| I want to love Thee, holy grace, | |
| With works I offer at Thy shrine, | |
| With longings time cannot efface. | |
| I want to love Thee, fairest light, | 5 |
| Till my heart’s night. | |
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| I want to love Thee, love Thee so | |
| As I would love my dearest friend; | |
| And, basking in Thy beauty’s glow, | |
| I’ll love and praise Thee without end. | 10 |
| Oh, lamb of God, my love for Thee | |
| As for a bridegroom e’er shall be. | |
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| Alas, that I so late have known | |
| Thy glory’s might, to praise with zest, | |
| Nor sooner called Thee quite mine own, | 15 |
| Thou highest good and safest rest! | |
| I do bemoan my sorry state | |
| Because I loved so late. | |
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| Ah, blinded I had gone astray, | |
| I could not find Thee in my plight; | 20 |
| For I from Thee had turned away, | |
| And loved but the created light. | |
| But now it is vouchsafed by Thee | |
| That I Thyself may see. | |
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| I thank Thee, oh my sun: my night | 25 |
| Is now illumined by Thy ray; | |
| I thank Thee, heavenly delight, | |
| That Thou hast made me free and gay. | |
| Thou golden mouth, my thanks I give: | |
| In health renewed Thou let’st me live. | 30 |
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| My footsteps, on Thy pathways led, | |
| May never stray or turn aside: | |
| Upon Thy roads, oh, let me tread, | |
| Nor halt, nor stumble—be my guide! | |
| Illumine soul and body quite, | 35 |
| Thou strong celestial light! | |
| |
| Pour sweetest tears into mine eyes, | |
| Chaste ardour give unto my heart; | |
| Oh, teach my soul and make it wise | |
| To practise love’s most gentle art; | 40 |
| And let my spirit, sense and mind | |
| E’er be to Thee inclined. | |
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| I want to love Thee, oh my crown, | |
| I want to love Thee, oh my God, | |
| To love without reward, renown, | 45 |
| E’en when in greatest pain I plod; | |
| I want to love Thee, fairest light, | |
| Till my heart’s night. | |
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