As I am, Lord Jesus, take me - a translation of 'Cymer Iesu' by William Williams, Pantycelin

Here, as promised, is a translation of the Welsh hymn 'Cymer Iesu' by William Williams (1717 – 1791). The original words are set out below. The tune, Bryn Calfaria, is in most hymn books.

As I am, Lord Jesus, take me,

Better I shall never be.

You have power to keep me faithful

When my faithless heart would flee.

There is wholeness

Through the wounds of Calvary.

 

Exiled to long weary wandering

Through a wasteland parched and dry,

All alone, I could not triumph

O’er the least of enemies.

But the name of

Jesus bids the mighty flee!

From the cross flows blood that raises

Feeble saints to conquerors

That same blood assures of victory

Over hordes of mighty foes

So from Calvary

Breathes a peace that stills our fears

I will trust, then, in your power

Ever glorious are your deeds!

Trampling death and hell and Satan

Under your victorious feet

Peerless Calvary

Never from my thoughts depart.

Cymer, Iesu, fi fel ‘rydwyf

Fyth ni allaf fod yn well

D’allu di am gwna yn agos

F’ewyllys i yw mynd ymhell

Yn dy glwyfau, yn dy glwyfau

Bydda i’n unig fyth yn iach

Mi ddiffygiais deithior crastir

Dyrys anial wrthyf f’hun

Ac mi fethais â choncweirio

O’m gelynion lleiaf un

Mae dy enw, mae dy enw

‘N able i beri i’r cryfaf ffoi

Gwaed y Groes sy’n codi i fyny

‘Reiddil yn goncwerwr mawr

Gwaed dy Groes sydd darostwng

Cewri cedyrn fyrdd i lawr

Gad i’m deimlo, Gad i’m deilo

Awel o Galfaria fryn

Ymddiriedaf yn dy allu

Mawr yw’r gwaith a wnest erioed

Ti gest angau, Ti gest uffern

Ti gest Satan dan y droed

Pen Calfaria, Pen Calfaria

Nac aed  hwnnw byth o’m cof.

William Williams (1717 - 1791)

Translation © the author of Strangers and Pilgrims, 2010.