Christ My Song - 146
How mean ye thus by weeping - Parting
(Carl Johann Philipp Spitta/Richard Massie/
Johannes Thomas Rüegg)
Parting.
1. How mean ye thus by weeping
to break my very heart?
We both are in Christ's keeping,
and cannot therefore part;
nor time, nor place can sever
the bonds which us have bound;
in Christ abide for ever
who once in him are found. PDF - Midi
2. As though to part for ever,
we press each other's hands,
and yet no power can sever
our love's eternal bands;
we look quite broken-hearted,
and sob our last farewell,
and yet can not be parted,
for both in Jesus dwell.
3. We say, "I here, you yonder,
you go, and I remain,"
and yet are not asunder,
but links of one great chain;
in tones of deep affection
"Our road parts here," we say,
yet go in one direction,
and in the self-same way.
4. Then let us cease from weeping,
and moderate our woe,
we both are in Christ's keeping,
with whom we always go;
both under his protection,
both led by his dear hand,
both in the same direction,
to the same Fatherland.
5. In fruitless lamentation
let us not waste the hours,
but find our consolation
in knowing Christ is ours;
if faith in him unite us,
though parting gives us pain,
it cannot disunite us,
for both in him remain.
Richard Massie, Lyra Domestica I, 1863, 130-131.
Translated from the German Was macht ihr, dass ihr weinet - Abschied
of Carl Johann Philipp Spitta.