1. My God, I love Thee; not because I hope for Heav'n thereby, Nor yet because who love Thee not May eternally die. 2. Thou, O my Jesus, Thou didst me Upon the cross embrace; For me didst bear the nails and spear, And manifold disgrace. 3. And griefs and torments numberless, And sweat of agony; E'en death itself; and all for man Who was Thine enemy. 4. Then why, O blessèd Jesus Christ Should I not love Thee well? Not for the hope of winning Heaven, Nor of escaping hell. 5. Not with the hope of gaining aught, Nor seeking a reward, But as Thyself hast lovèd me, O everlasting Lord! 6. E'en so I love Thee, and will love, And in Thy praise will sing, Solely because Thou art my God, And my eternal King. Lyrics: Author unknown (O Deus, ego amo te); translated from Latin to English by Edward Caswall, Lyra Catholica, 1849.