Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs: Translated by John KellyGerhardt, Paul
Religion
Paul Gerhardt's Spiritual Songs: Translated by John Kelly
Gerhardt, Paul
Hymns, English; Hymns, German -- Translations into English
Wisdom and understanding true
In Him are ever dwelling;
Time, place, to leave undone or do,
He knoweth, never failing.
He ever knows
When joys, when woes,
Are best for those He loveth.
What He doth here--
Tho' it appear
Ill--to be good aye proveth.
Thou think'st indeed, if thou hast not
What flesh and blood is yearning
To have, that trial mars thy lot,
Thy light to darkness turning.
Of toil and care
Thou hast large share,
Ere thou thy wish attainest,
And dost not see
Whatever thee
Befals, thereby thou gainest.
In truth, He who created thee,
His glory in thee showing,
Hath long ago in His decree
Determin'd--all foreknowing--
What good for thee
And thine will be,
In faithfulness he'll give it.
Curb thou thy will,
Wait! be thou still,
To His good pleasure leave it.
Whate'er to send, seems good to God,
'Twill be at last refreshing,
Altho' thou call'st it cross and load
'Tis fraught with richest blessing.
Wait patiently,
His grace to thee
He'll speedily discover.
All grief and fear
Shall disappear
Like mist the hills spread over.
The field, unless the storm rage high,
Its ripe fruits yieldeth never,
So men were ruin'd utterly
If all were prosp'rous ever.
Though health it gives,
And thus relieves,
The bitter aloe paineth;
So must the heart
With anguish smart,
Ere it to health attaineth.
My God! my God! into Thy hand
I joyfully now yield me,
Keep me, a stranger in the land,
E'en to the end, Lord! shield me.
Deal with me now
As well dost know,
That I may profit by it;
Then more and more
Thy glorious pow'r,
Lord! show, and magnify it.
Wilt cause Thy sun on me to shine,
With pleasure, Lord, I'll share it;
Should trial or mischance be mine,
Then patiently I'll bear it.
Of life the door
Should it before
Me open here stand ever,
Where Thou lead'st me,
I'll joyfully
Go with Thee, shrinking never.
Should I along the path of death,
Through the dark vale be treading,
'Tis well, 'tis the appointed path,
E'en there Thine eyes are leading.
My Shepherd! Thou
Art all below
To such an issue bringing,
That I to Thee,
Eternally,
Shall songs of praise be singing.
COMMIT THY WAY UNTO THE LORD, TRUST ALSO IN HIM, AND HE SHALL BRING
IT TO PASS.--PSALM XXXVII. 5.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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