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
Seems help impossible to thee?
This should'st thou know however,
God by our narrow thoughts can be
Hemm'd and confinèd never,
This ne'er to us alloweth He;
He everywhere,--His arm is free,--
Doth more than we can fathom.
What is His wide dominion fair?
'Tis full of varied wonder;
He helpeth us when dark despair
We helplessly sink under,
To His great name this is the praise,
If thou wilt see His holy place,
Thou must ascribe for ever.
THE 13TH PSALM OF DAVID.
How long, Lord, in forgetfulness
And darkness wilt Thou leave me?
How long will sorrow on me press
And deep heart-anguish grieve me?
Wilt Thou Thy face, Lord, utterly
Turn from me? wilt ne'er look on me
In grace and in compassion?
How long shall I, thy stricken child,
Bereft of soul-rest languish?
How long shall storm and wind so wild,
Fill heart with fear and anguish?
How long shall my proud enemy,
Who only meaneth ill to me,
Exult o'er me in triumph?
Ah! look on me, my Shield and Lord!
Down from Thy holy heaven,
And hear now my complaining word,
My pray'r from heart grief-riven.
Give to mine eyes, Lord, pow'r and might,
And do not let death's gloomy night
So speedily o'ertake me.
For then, Lord, ev'ry enemy
Would never cease to glory,
And were I prostrate utterly,
Would ever triumph o'er me.
"There lieth he," they'd cry in joy,
"Who caus'd us evermore annoy,
He's prostrate and ne'er riseth."
I know them, and I know fall well
The wickedness they're planning,
Their hearts with ev'ry evil swell,
No good them e'er restraining.
But Thou, the faithful One, Lord, art,
And those who choose Thee for their part,
Thou nevermore forsakest.
My soul doth calmly trust in Thee,
Thou true to me remainest,
Of malice and of subtlety
The course, with pow'r restrainest.
This makes my heart with joy o'erflow,
That willingly dost Thou bestow
Salvation on the trusting.
O Lord! for aye I'll trust in Thee,
Thou'rt my sole joy for ever;
Thou doest well, protectest me,
From sorrow dost deliver.
And therefore I my whole life long,
Will sing Thee oft a gladsome song
Of praise and of thanksgiving.
Songs of Praise and Thanksgiving.
IN GRATEFUL SONGS.
In grateful songs your voices raise,
All people here below,
To Him whom angels ever praise,
In heav'n His glory show.
With gladsome songs now fill the air
To God our chiefest Joy,
Who worketh wonders ev'rywhere,
Whose hands great things employ;
Who from the womb to latest years
Upholds the life He gave;
Who when no help from man appears
Himself appears to save;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account