May God be praised henceforth and blest forever, Who, Himself both Gift and Giver, With His own flesh and blood our souls doth nourish; May they grow thereby and flourish! O Lord, have mercy! By Thy holy body, the selfsame Which from Thine own mother Mary came, By the drops Thou didst bleed, Help us in the hour of need. O Lord, have mercy! 2. Thou hast to death Thy holy body given, Life to win for us in heaven; By stronger love, dear Lord, Thou couldst not bind us, Whereof this should well remind us. O Lord, have mercy! Lord, Thy love constrained Thee for our good Mighty things to do by Thy dear blood; Thou hast paid all we owed, Thou hast made our peace with God. O Lord, have mercy! 3. May God bestow on us His grace and blessing, That, His holy footsteps tracing, We walk as brethren dear in love and union Nor repent this sweet Communion. O Lord, have mercy! Let not Thy good Spirit forsake us, Grant that heavenly-minded He make us, That Thy poor Church may see Days of peace and unity. O Lord, have mercy! 1st stanza 15th cent.; Martin Luther, 1524; R. Massie, tr., a. 432 L. M. 8 l Deck thyself, my soul, with gladness, Leave the gloomy haunts of sadness, Come into the daylight’s splendor, There with joy thy praises render Unto Him whose grace unbounded Hath this wondrous banquet founded; High o’er all the heavens He reigneth, Yet to dwell with thee He deigneth. 2. Hasten as a bride to meet Him And with loving reverence greet Him; For with words of life immortal Now He knocketh at thy portal; Haste to ope the gates before Him, Saying, while thou dost adore Him, “Suffer, Lord, that I receive Thee, And I nevermore will leave Thee.” 3. He who costly goods desireth To obtain much gold requireth; But to freely give the treasure Of Thy love is Thy good pleasure; For on earth there is no coffer Which as payment we might offer For this cup, Thy blood containing, And this manna, on us raining. 4. Ah, how hungers all my spirit For the love I do not merit! Oft have I, with sighs fast thronging, Thought upon this food with longing, In the battle well-nigh worsted, For this cup of life have thirsted, For the Friend, who here invites us And to God Himself unites us. 5. Now I sink before Thee lowly, Filled with joy most deep and holy, As with trembling awe and wonder On Thy mighty works I ponder, How, by mystery surrounded, Depths no man hath ever sounded, None may dare to pierce unbidden, Secrets that with Thee are hidden.