Jesu, Our Hope, Our Hearts’ Desire

Jesu, our Hope, our heart’s Desire,
Thy work of grace we sing;
Redeemer of the world art Thou,
Its Maker and its King.

How vast the mercy and the love,
Which laid our sins on Thee,
And led Thee to a cruel death,
To set Thy people free!

But now the bonds of death are burst;
The ransom has been paid;
And Thou art on Thy Father’s throne,
In glorious robes arrayed.

O may Thy mighty love prevail
Our sinful souls to spare!
O may we stand around Thy throne,
And see Thy glory there!

Jesu, our only Joy be Thou,
As Thou our Prize wilt be;
In Thee be all our glory now
And through eternity.

All praise to Thee Who art gone up
Triumphantly to Heav’n;
All praise to God the Father’s Name
And Holy Ghost be given.

Author: John Chandler

Year: 1837

This is a translation from the 7th-century Latin hymn 'Jesu, nostra redemptio'. John Chandler included it in his 'Hymns of the Primitive Church' (1837). Some hymnals attribute the text to 'Anonymous' or simply list it as a traditional Latin hymn translated in the 19th century, but Chandler is the most commonly credited translator.