இயேசுவே நீர்தாம் (Jesus Lead Thou On)

Accompaniment by GB   Click to play xxx     
[This accompaniment includes a prelude]

Lyric
1. இயேசுவே, நீர்தாம்
ஜீவ நாள் எல்லாம்
மோட்சத்துக்குச் சேருமட்டும்
கைதந்தெங்களை நடத்தும்;
நீர் முன்னாலே போம்,
உம்மோடேகுவோம்.

2. தீங்கு மிஞ்சினால்
எங்களை அன்பால்
கலங்காதபடி காரும்,
நிலை நிற்கும் வரந்தாரும்;
இங்கே சிலுவை,
அங்கே மகிமை.

3. சொந்தக் க்லேசமும்
நேசர் துன்பமும்
நெஞ்சை வாதித்தால், அன்பாகப்
பொறுமை அளிப்பீராக,
ஜீவக் க்ரீடத்தை
நோக்க நீர் துணை.

4. நீர் இவ்வுலகில்
கஷ்ட வழியில்
எங்களை நடத்தினாலும்
ஆதரியும்; நாங்கள் சாகும்
போதும்மிடமே
சேரும், நேசரே.

Credits
Hymn writer: Nicolaus Ludwig Zinzendorf  (Imperial Count of Zinzendorf and Pottendorf, German religious and social reformer and bishop of the Moravian Church), 1700-1760.  You can read about this man of God here.
Translated from German to Tamil: Johann Phillip Fabricius & H. Beisenherz
Translated to English by Jane Borthwick (1813-1897).
Tune: Seelenbrautigam; Composer of tune is Adam Drese, 1620 -1701

Transliteration
Pending

Free translation of the Tamil words
1. Jesus, all the days of our life
Until we reach heaven
Guide us with Your hand;
Lord lead us and we will follow

2. If evil overtake us, then in love
Keep us from fretting.
Give us the grace of endurance–
Here the cross; there the glory

3. When fears within us and trouble from those around us
Weighs heavily on our heart,
Grant us patience
And help us to look forward to the crown of life

4. In this world, even if You should lead us
Through the way of hardship
Comfort and bear us; when we die
We will be united with our Beloved Lord.

Hymn in English
1. Jesus, lead Thou on
Till our rest is won;
And although the way be cheerless,
We will follow calm and fearless.
Guide us by Thy hand
To our fatherland.

2. If the way be drear,
If the foe be near,
Let not faithless fears o’ertake us;
Let not faith and hope forsake us;
For through many a woe
To our home we go.

3. When we seek relief
From a long-felt grief;
When temptations come alluring,
Make us patient and enduring;
Show us that bright shore
Where we weep no more.

4. Jesus, lead Thou on
Till our rest is won.
Heavenly Leader, still direct us,
Still support, control, protect us,
Till we safely stand
In our fatherland.

Devotional thoughts/historical background
This hymn is one of comfort in trouble and encourages us to endure our present afflictions with patience, knowing that these are only momentary. Some of the scriptures that come to mind are:

2 Cor 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

James 1:12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.

Rev 2:10 “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

1 Pet 1:4-6 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,