St. Patrick’s Hymn – “I Bind unto Myself Today”

Did you know St. Patrick (c.372-466) wrote this hymn? “I Bind unto Myself Today” is printed in our Lutheran Service Book (LSB 604). You can listen to a recording here. Read and meditate on these rich words:

1 I bind unto myself today
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three. (repeat)

2 I bind this day to me forever,
By power of faith, Christ’s incarnation,
His baptism in the Jordan river,
His cross of death for my salvation,
His bursting from the spiced tomb,
His riding up the heavenly way,
His coming at the day of doom,
I bind unto myself today.

3 I bind unto myself today
The power of God to hold and lead,
His eye to watch, His might to stay,
His ear to hearken to my need,
The wisdom of my God to teach,
His hand to guide, His shield to ward,
The word of God to give me speech,
His heavenly host to be my guard.

4 Against the demon snares of sin,
The vice that gives temptation force,
The natural lusts that war within,
The hostile foes that far my course,
Or few or many, or far or nigh,
In ev’ry place and in all hours,
Against their fierce hostility,
I bind to me those holy pow’rs.

5 I bind unto myself the name,
The strong name of the Trinity
By invocation of the same,
The Three in One and One in Three,
Of whom all nature has creation,
Eternal Father, Spirit, Word.
Praise to the Lord of my salvation;
Salvation is of Christ the Lord!

About Christopher Asbury