O Love, who ere life’s earliest dawn
Thy choice on me hast gently laid;
O Love, who here as man was born,
And wholly like to us wast made;
O Love, I give myself to thee,
Thine ever, only thine to be.

O Love, who once in time wast slain,
Pierced through and through with bitter woe;
O Love, who wrestling thus didst gain,
That we eternal joy might know;
O Love, I give myself to thee,
Thine ever, only thine to be.

O Love, of whom is Truth and Light,
The Word and Spirit, Life and Power,
Whose heart was bared to them that smite,
To shield us in our trial-hour;
O Love, I give myself to thee,
Thine ever, only thine to be.

O Love, who thus hast bound me fast
Beneath that gentle yoke of thine;
Love, who hast conquered me at last,
And wrapt away this heart of mine;
O Love, I give myself to thee,
Thine ever, only thine to be.

O Love, who lovest me for aye,
Who for my soul dost ever plead;
O Love, who didst my ransom pay,
Whose power sufficeth in my stead;
O Love, I give myself to thee,
Thine ever, only thine to be.

O Love, who soon shalt bid me rise,
From out this dying life of ours;
O Love, who soon, o’er yonder skies,
Shall set me in the fadeless bowers;
O Love, I give myself to thee,
Thine ever, only thine to be.

Johann Scheffler (1624-1677)
English: Catherine Winkworth