O Living Bread from Heaven

O Living Bread from heaven, How well you feed your guest! The gifts that you have given Have filled my heart with rest. Oh, wondrous food of blessing, Oh, cup that heals our woes! My heart, this gift possessing, With praises overflows.

My Lord, you here have led me Within your holiest place And here yourself have fed me With treasures of your grace; For you have freely given What earth could never buy, The bread of life from heaven, That now I shall not die.

You gave me all I wanted; This food can death destroy. And you have freely granted The cup of endless joy. My Lord, I do not merit The favor you have shown, And all my soul and spirit Bow down before your throne.

Lord, grant me then, thus strengthened With heavenly food, while here My course on earth is lengthened, To serve with holy fear. And when you call my spirit To leave this world below, I enter, through your merit, Where joys unmingled flow.

Original German text, Johann von Rist, 1651 Translation, Catherine Winkworth, 1858

Tunes: Aurelia, Samuel Wesley Lancashire, Henry T. Smart

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