Notes from Dr. Julian's Hymnology:
Mrs Dober was born April 9th. 1713 at Kunewald near Fulnek, Moravia. She went to Herrnhut in 1725 and in 1730 joined her friend and townswoman Anna Nitchmann, forming the "Jungfrauenbund [1 Cor. 7:32-34; Rev. 19:4] the Unmarried Sisters" at Herrnhut. On July 13th. 1737, she became the wife of L.J. Dober (consecrated Bishop 1742, died at Herrnhut, 1766) who was then General Elder of the Moravian Church. After assisting him in his labours for the conversion of the Jews in Amsterdam, she died at Marienborn near Budlingen, Hesse-Darmstadt, Dec. 12th. 1739. A faithful and gifted servant of Christ, she was the author of numerous hymns, full of personal devotion to her Lord and of deep trust in Him, which passed into the Moravian collections — that of 1778 containing 18 hymns by her.
Mrs. Dober's hymn in 'Spiritual Songs' is no. 307, "Poor and feeble though we be", (translated by John Wesley).
In the Methodist Hymnal of 1878 the first verse is as follows:
"Dust and ashes though we be,
Full of sin and misery,
Thine we are Thou Son of God,
Take the purchase of Thy blood."
In 'Spiritual Songs' the same verse is rendered:
"Poor and feeble though we be,
Saviour we belong to Thee,
Thine we are, Thou Son of God,
Thine the purchase of Thy blood."
The second verse is well worthy of our notice:
"Boundless wisdom, power divine,
Love unspeakable are Thine,
Praise by all to Thee be given,
Son of God and Heir of Heaven"