Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty

Open Now Thy Gates of Beauty, this isn’t a highly familiar hymn for me, but one I’ve sung off and on throughout the years. The version I know only has three verses so it was interesting to discover that it has five verses. Written by Benjamin Schmolck, a German pastor and hymn writer from the late 1600, early 1700’s.

Schmolck preached a sermon for his father, that so impressed a patron that he was sent to learn more theology eventually serving as a pastor in a Lutheran church outside of Schweidnitz. He gained a reputation as a poet, when to support himself while in seminary he wrote poetry for wealthy citizens. He wrote over 900 hymns, and was the most popular German hymn writer at this time. He also wrote cantatas, as well as occasional pieces for weddings, and funerals.

Open now thy gates of beauty,
Zion, let me enter there,
Where my soul in joyful duty
Waits for Him who answers prayer.
Oh, how blessèd is this place,
Filled with solace, light and grace!

Gracious God, I come before Thee,
Come Thou also unto me;
Where we find Thee and adore Thee,
There a heav’n on earth must be.
To my heart, oh, enter Thou,
Let it be Thy temple now!

Here Thy praise is gladly chanted,
Here Thy seed is duly sown;
Let my soul, where it is planted,
Bring forth precious sheaves alone,
So that all I hear may be
Fruitful unto life in me.

Thou my faith increase and quicken,
Let me keep Thy gift divine,
Howsoe’er temptations thicken;
May Thy Word still o’er me shine
As my guiding star through life,
As my comfort in my strife.

Speak, O God, and I will hear Thee,
Let Thy will be done indeed;
May I undisturbed draw near Thee
While Thou dost Thy people feed.
Here of life the fountain flows,
Here is balm for all our woes.